Photo montage by Adam Connors
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RANKINGS 1-5
| 6-10 | 11-15
| 16-20 | 21-25
| 26-30 | 31-35
| 36-40 | 41-45
| 46-50 | next
>>
Chris
Stowers for Asiaweek
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6
Chen Shui-bian
PRESIDENT OF TAIWAN
BORN Feb. 18, 1951, in Tainan County
EDUCATION National Taiwan University School of Law
FAMILY Married to Wu Shu-jen, two children
POWER POINTS China, with all its military might, is spooked
down to its boots by this upstart son of a Taiwan sugar-plantation
worker. Since his victory (admittedly with a limited mandate) in March's
presidential election , the world has been watching to see how the
former mayor of Taipei manages to finesse his earlier fiery talk of
independence with the need to maintain a working relationship with
Beijing. Asia's future and prosperity depend on the outcome.
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Jay
Directo/AFP
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7
Abdurrahman Wahid
PRESIDENT OF INDONESIA
BORN Aug. 4, 1940, in East Java, Indonesia
EDUCATION Al-Azhar University, Egypt; Islamic University of
Baghdad
FAMILY Married to Siti Nuriyah, four daughters
HOBBIES Soccer enthusiast and classical-music buff
POWER POINTS Against the odds and sometimes despite his erratic
ways, Wahid (also known as Gus Dur) has guided Southeast Asia's most
populous nation through its first year of true democracy. After astutely
maneuvering between two hostile sides to snatch the presidency, he
has patched up relations with secession-prone outer territories and
faced down the military. Wahid has steadily built up his authority,
but his lack of interest in economic affairs has slowed recovery -
possibly jeopardizing his position.
Philip
Gostelow
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8
Son Masayoshi
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, SOFTBANK CORP.
BORN Aug. 11, 1957, in Tosu, Japan
FAMILY Married
E-MAIL tmiki@softbank.co.jp
POWER POINTS Driven by Son's vision and derring-do, the Softbank
cyber-empire spans the globe, including about 150 Internet and computer
companies and other interests. Son's estimated personal wealth: over
$60 billion, despite the recent zapping of tech values. Next projects:
Nasdaq Japan and banking.
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Rakesh
Sahai for Asiaweek
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9
A.B. Vajpayee
PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA
BORN Dec. 25, 1924, in Gwalior, India
EDUCATION University of Kanpur, India
FAMILY Single, with two adopted children
POWER POINTS If a diplomatic humbling of Pakistan counts for
anything - and it does - this was a year to savor for Vajpayee. During
a visit to South Asia, President Bill Clinton made it clear he was
drawing down the curtain on the U.S.'s special relationship with old
Cold War ally Pakistan and tilting toward the emerging might and wealth
of democratic India. For Vajpayee, the geopolitical swing came on
the heels of India's successful neutralizing of a Pakistani-backed
invasion of disputed Kashmir, the taming of hardliners in his coalition
government and the routing of the Congress party in a general election.
The Indian PM seems more firmly established than ever - a situation
clouded only by his medical condition. He has only one kidney, and
his health is thought to be not good.
Stephen
Shaver/AFP
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10
Zhu Rongji
PREMIER OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF CHINA
BORN Oct. 1, 1928, in Changsha, China
EDUCATION Electrical engineering at Tsinghua University, Beijing
FAMILY Married to Lao An, one son, one daughter
POWER POINTS Zhu has doggedly pursued China's entry into the
WTO, despite sour relations with the U.S. and sniping from conservatives
at home. His war on corruption has met with some success, as has getting
the PLA out of business. But reform of state-owned enterprises is
bogged down.
RANKINGS 1-5
| 6-10 | 11-15
| 16-20 | 21-25
| 26-30 | 31-35
| 36-40 | 41-45
| 46-50 | next
>>
Write to Asiaweek at mail@web.asiaweek.com
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