By
9 January 2012 14:06
If Tsai Ing-wen (left) wins the presidential election in Taiwan this week, she will become Northeast Asia's first elected female leader. If, as expected, Tsai loses a close election, South Korea's Park Geun-hye could take this mantle in December 2012.
A Tsai win would be significant for gender and political leadership in East Asia too, as she would be the first elected female leader not the wife, sister or daughter of a powerful national political leader.
Photo by Flickr user davidreid.