The Nationalists had hoped to turn the island into a stronghold near the enemy and use it as a steppingstone to launch strikes against the mainland, but many military commanders were doubtful this would ever succeed.

You Meiyao, a staff officer of Chen Yi during the Second Sino-Japanese War, decided to fight it out, making future attempts to dislodge the Nationalists very difficult.

You Meiyao suggested that while reinforcements were organized as quickly as possible, the local garrison would use the terrain and strong fortifications on the island to slow the enemy down by inflicting as many casualties as possible.

Communist mortar fire badly damaged the port facilities including the pier and also scored direct hits on three large landing ships.

However, the lightly armed paratroopers proved to be no match for the enemy in heavily fortified positions on the terrain that strongly favored the defenders.

Despite repeated assaults, the elite paratroopers not only failed to achieve their original objective but suffered heavy losses, with several hundred killed and wounded.

By 9:00 AM, the entire regiment had reached the Eight Feet Gate (Ba Chi Men, 八尺门) pier of the Eastern Mountain (Dongshan, 东山) Island.

With the help of the newly arrived reinforcements, the Communist naval infantry company at Eight Feet Gate managed to force the attacking Nationalist paratroopers into retreat.

Realizing that the bridge was passable his troops was now outnumbered and outgunned, Hu Lien chose to withdraw before any more enemy reinforcements arrived.

Another serious blunder committed by the attacking Nationalist force was the failure to completely cut the communications link between the defenders and the mainland.

This problem was further compounded by the incorrect use of the lightly equipped paratroopers by ordering them to attack the strongly fortified Communist positions at Eight Feet Gate Pier, resulting in heavy casualties.