Qiying vs Taro Aso

Qiying, as Qing plenipotentiary, negotiated and signed the Treaty of Nanjing with Britain, ending the First Opium War. The treaty ceded Hong Kong, opened five treaty ports, and imposed an indemnity, marking the start of the unequal treaty system.

Qiying negotiated the Treaty of Wanghia with the United States, granting Americans extraterritoriality and most-favored-nation status. This further eroded Qing sovereignty and set a precedent for other Western powers.

Qiying was executed by the Qing court for his failure to negotiate effectively with the British during the Second Opium War. His death reflected the court's dissatisfaction with his handling of foreign affairs.

Aso became Prime Minister in September 2008 amid the global financial crisis. His government implemented a series of economic stimulus packages, but the recession deepened, and his approval ratings plummeted due to perceived ineffective leadership.

Aso resigned as LDP president after the party suffered a historic defeat in the 2009 general election, losing power to the DPJ. The LDP won only 119 seats, its worst result since 1955, ending over 50 years of near-continuous rule.

Aso served as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister in Shinzo Abe's cabinet from 2012 to 2021. He was a key architect of Abenomics, implementing aggressive monetary easing and fiscal stimulus, and overseeing the consumption tax hike.

Aso made repeated controversial statements about Japan's wartime history, including questioning the fairness of the Tokyo Trials and suggesting Japan should learn from Nazi Germany's constitutional changes. These remarks drew international condemnation.