Apisai Ielemia vs Wakatsuki Reijiro

Apisai Ielemia was elected as the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, succeeding Maatia Toafa. His government prioritized climate change advocacy, seeking international attention for the threat of sea-level rise to low-lying island nations.

Ielemia's government issued the 'Tuvalu Declaration' at the Pacific Islands Forum, calling for urgent global action on climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The declaration emphasized the vulnerability of Pacific island nations.

Prime Minister Ielemia led Tuvalu's delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. He delivered a passionate plea for stronger action on climate change, highlighting the existential threat to Tuvalu and other small island states.

As Finance Minister in the Hamaguchi cabinet, Wakatsuki oversaw Japan's return to the gold standard in January 1930. This policy aimed to stabilize the economy but worsened the Great Depression's impact on Japan, leading to deflation and social unrest.

As Prime Minister during the Mukden Incident of September 1931, Wakatsuki Reijiro's cabinet initially attempted to restrain the Kwantung Army's unauthorized expansion in Manchuria. However, the government failed to control the military, leading to Japan's full-scale invasion of Manchuria.

Wakatsuki resigned as Prime Minister in December 1931 after his cabinet failed to rein in the Kwantung Army's actions in Manchuria. The government's inability to assert civilian control over the military marked a turning point in Japan's descent into militarism.

Wakatsuki became Prime Minister for a second time in April 1931, succeeding Hamaguchi Osachi who was incapacitated by an assassination attempt. His brief second term was dominated by the escalating Manchurian crisis.