Chinese Attack Chiang's Islands -- The village of Tashatou nestling among hills surrounding the harbour on lower Tachen Island. Upper Tachen in the background. Picture taken last November. The Tachen Islands, only 14 miles from the Mainland, hold about 14,500 civilians and 20,000 troops.The Chinese Nationalist defense ministry announced in Taipei today January 18 that communist Chinese forces may have captured the island of Yikiangshan, 200 miles north of Formosa, in a combined air land and sea operation. It was also reported that communist forces had rained more than 200 bombs on the nearby Tachen Islands. January 18, 1955. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).