Han Kuo-yu vs Yasuhiro Nakasone

Han Kuo-yu, a relatively unknown KMT politician, was elected Mayor of Kaohsiung, a traditional DPP stronghold. His populist campaign, focused on economic revival and closer ties with China, won him a landslide victory and made him a national political figure.

Han Kuo-yu won the KMT primary and became the party's candidate for the 2020 presidential election. He campaigned on a platform of economic growth and cross-strait engagement. He lost to incumbent Tsai Ing-wen by a significant margin, receiving 38% of the vote.

Han Kuo-yu was recalled as Mayor of Kaohsiung in a recall election, the first such successful recall of a mayor in Taiwanese history. The recall was driven by dissatisfaction with his performance and his decision to run for president while serving as mayor.

Han Kuo-yu was elected Speaker of the Legislative Yuan after the KMT became the largest party in the 2024 legislative elections. This marked a political comeback after his recall, positioning him as a key figure in Taiwan's legislature.

Nakasone launched a major administrative reform aimed at reducing government spending and streamlining bureaucracy. He established the Second Provisional Commission for Administrative Reform, which recommended cuts to public works, subsidies, and the number of civil servants, contributing to fiscal consolidation.

Nakasone deepened the US-Japan security alliance, notably by declaring Japan an 'unsinkable aircraft carrier' and increasing defense spending. He also agreed to share military technology with the US and supported the deployment of US forces in Japan, solidifying the bilateral partnership during the Cold War.

Nakasone hosted the 12th G7 summit in Tokyo in May 1986, where leaders discussed economic coordination, terrorism, and the Chernobyl disaster. The summit enhanced Japan's international profile and showcased Nakasone's leadership on the global stage.

As prime minister, Yasuhiro Nakasone oversaw the privatization of the debt-ridden Japanese National Railways (JNR), splitting it into regional passenger companies and a freight company. The reform, implemented in April 1987, aimed to improve efficiency and service quality, and is credited with revitalizing Japan's railway system.