Shortly before dawn on 16 July 1953, the Nationalist commander Hu Lien (胡琏) sailed with his troops in 13 naval vessels and more than 30 motorized junks toward Dongshan Island, Fujian, attempting to retake the island from the Communists who took the island from the Nationalists three years earlier in the Battle of Dongshan Island. In addition to two regular army divisions, an elite paratroop division totaling 2,000 personnel in two brigades was deployed for the mission. The total Nationalist force committed was just over 10,000. 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 capable Nationalist commanders (including the commander of the operation, Hu Lien) were highly doubtful this would ever succeed. After fierce debate, a compromise was reached: a much more moderate objective of striking the island to gain a political and morale boost and then a quick withdrawal before the enemy could reinforce the island. Later, when the situation permitted, the original plan to turn the island into a stronghold would be implemented.