Bandar bin Sultan vs Ye Mingchen

Bandar bin Sultan served as Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005, the longest tenure of any Saudi ambassador. He played a key role in shaping US-Saudi relations, particularly during the Gulf War and the Iraq War.

Bandar was involved in facilitating secret US arms sales to Iran in exchange for hostages, a key component of the Iran-Contra affair. He acted as an intermediary between the US and Iran, though his exact role remains disputed.

After leaving the ambassadorship, Bandar was appointed Secretary-General of the Saudi National Security Council, where he continued to influence foreign policy, particularly regarding Iran and the Middle East peace process.

Ye Mingchen was appointed Viceroy of Liangguang (Guangdong and Guangxi provinces), making him the highest Qing official in southern China. He was responsible for managing relations with foreign powers, particularly the British in Canton.

Ye Mingchen ordered the execution of British prisoners captured during the Arrow Incident, a dispute over a Chinese-owned ship flying the British flag. This act escalated tensions and contributed to the outbreak of the Second Opium War.

During the Second Opium War, British forces captured Canton and took Ye Mingchen prisoner. He was held captive and later exiled to India, where he died in 1859. His capture symbolized Qing military weakness and the failure of his hardline anti-foreign policies.