Looking ahead: Hopes for 2016

17 Jiang Chunliang, researcher at the PLA Academy of Military Science

In the coming year, the ongoing reform of the People's Liberation Army will continue to streamline the command chain and organizations that have proved to be inefficient. The proportion of combat units and the officer-soldier ratio will be further improved, and the PLA is set to receive more-advanced weapons and equipment as the existing ones are upgraded. The overhaul will boost the military's capability to perform not only combat operations, but also a wide range of noncombat missions. In addition, a number of PLA academies and schools will be transferred to local education departments, because the PLA will depend more on civil institutes to recruit and train new officers.

18 Li Jiaxiang, director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China

In 2016, we will open at least 200 new air links with foreign nations and invest more funds to build infrastructure to support the Belt and Road Initiative. More training sessions will be held for civil aviation workers from nations covered by the Belt and Road initiative. Domestically, ensuring flight punctuality will remain a top priority for us, so we will open more large-capacity air traffic paths.

20 Zhu Songling, director of the Institute of Cross-Straits Relations

The first and most important event for cross-Straits relations in 2016 will be Taiwan's leadership election on Jan 16. No matter what result the election brings, Taiwan will have a new leader and a new legislature. The change could be a turning point for the Taiwan situation, and also a challenge for cross-Straits relations.

The new leadership's attitude toward the 1992 Consensus is critical. On May 20, the new leader's inaugural speech will be worth paying attention to, especially how cross-Straits relations are defined. I hope the exchanges will continue, as they will benefit people from both sides. Personally, I am not optimistic about the election result and cross-Straits relations after the change. Relations could enter a phase I call "cold peace", or even worse.