From 1884 to 1885, France and the Qing Empire fought over control of Vietnam. Part of this war played out in northern Taiwan during the Keelung Campaign, when French forces attacked and briefly occupied parts of the city.
It led to a deadly battle that echos in the French and Taiwanese history books. Perhaps, it does not seem as gruesome as a modern day genocide, but in reality at that time, this was one of teh most barbaric and gruesome wars ever fought.
The Sino-French War Memorial Park, also known as the Cimetière militaire français de Keelung, preserves the memory of a conflict that unfolded more than a century ago.
The fighting was fierce, but disease proved deadlier than bullets, hundreds of soldiers, including members of the African Battalion, died of typhoid and cholera during the operation.
Around 1885, the French established a military cemetery there. Over time, it expanded, even receiving the remains of French personnel who had died in the Pescadores (Penghu) and other areas.
Today, around 700 soldiers are burried there, though only a few graves bear individual names. For decades, the site fell into neglect and was largely forgotten.
In recent years, the Taiwanese government has taken extra steps to restore the grounds and the nearby area now serves as a memorial park. In the shades of large banyan trees, a row of headstones marks the resting place of soldiers far from home. This is a quiet space to reflect on a little-known episode of Taiwan’s history.