China hasn’t solved its sovereignty dispute with Taiwan after more than 70 years and that’s a problem for Beijing. That won't change any time soon, but the two sides may finally talk again. The end of 2017 would work partly because people in Taiwan are getting restless for relief in the stalemate with China since Tsai came to power. The end of 2017 makes further sense because China will hold its 19th National Congress of the Communist Party around then. No one knows exactly what Tsai would offer to a nicer China or how Beijing would react.

Source: Forbes March 26, 2017 21:56 UTC