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Palmer-James-foreign-policy-staff-portraits-202226

James Palmer

Deputy Editor [email protected]

James Palmer is a deputy editor at Foreign Policy and writes FP’s weekly China Brief newsletter. Palmer is the author of The Bloody White Baron: The Extraordinary Story of the Russian Nobleman Who Became the Last Khan of Mongolia and The Death of Mao: The Tangshan Earthquake and the Birth of the New China. He won the Shiva Naipaul prize for travel writing in 2003.

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Articles by James Palmer
A man holds his release papers after leaving a government quarantine facility in Beijing on Dec. 7.
A man holds his release papers after leaving a government quarantine facility in Beijing on Dec. 7.

China Lets Up on Zero-COVID Policy

China Brief
James Palmer
A screen shows a news broadcast featuring former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin in Beijing on Nov. 30.
A screen shows a news broadcast featuring former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin in Beijing on Nov. 30.

What Jiang Zemin’s Death Means for the CCP

China Brief
James Palmer
Protesters hold up white paper as a symbol against censorship during a protest in Beijing.
Protesters hold up white paper as a symbol against censorship during a protest in Beijing.

Will China’s Protests Survive?

Explainer
James Palmer
An epidemic control worker stands in a nearly empty street in Beijing’s Central Business District on Nov. 23.
An epidemic control worker stands in a nearly empty street in Beijing’s Central Business District on Nov. 23.

New Outbreaks Test China’s Appetite for Reopening

China Brief
James Palmer
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping

Did the Xi-Biden Summit Cool Tensions?

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomes German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing on Nov. 4.
Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomes German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing on Nov. 4.

Secure at Home, Xi Steps Back Onto the Global Stage

China Brief
James Palmer
People visit the Bund promenade with the financial district of Lujiazui in the background in Shanghai on Oct. 24.
People visit the Bund promenade with the financial district of Lujiazui in the background in Shanghai on Oct. 24.

China’s Markets React to Xi’s Third Term

China Brief
James Palmer
China-ccp-standing-committee-HP
China-ccp-standing-committee-HP

Who’s Who on the New CCP Standing Committee

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) looks on as former President Hu Jintao is escorted from the closing session of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 22.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) looks on as former President Hu Jintao is escorted from the closing session of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 22.

What the Heck Just Happened to Hu Jintao?

Analysis
James Palmer
People watch the opening session of the 20th Chinese National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Huaibei, China, on Oct. 16.
People watch the opening session of the 20th Chinese National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Huaibei, China, on Oct. 16.

What Did Xi Say at China’s 20th Party Congress?

China Brief
James Palmer
Party members walk by an image showing Chinese President Xi Jinping at an exhibition highlighting his years as leader as part of the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party on Oct. 12 in Beijing.
Party members walk by an image showing Chinese President Xi Jinping at an exhibition highlighting his years as leader as part of the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party on Oct. 12 in Beijing.

What to Expect at China’s 20th Party Congress

China Brief
James Palmer
China-brief-book-roundup
China-brief-book-roundup

8 Books to Read Ahead of China’s 20th Party Congress

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 16.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 16.

What a False Coup Rumor Reveals About Chinese Politics

China Brief
James Palmer
People line up to be tested for COVID-19 next to a propaganda poster showing Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Aug. 31.
People line up to be tested for COVID-19 next to a propaganda poster showing Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Aug. 31.

Bus Crash Amplifies Zero-COVID Frustration

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese President Xi Jinping leaves the podium following his speech in Hong Kong on July 1.
Chinese President Xi Jinping leaves the podium following his speech in Hong Kong on July 1.

Homebody Xi Finally Steps Outside China

China Brief
James Palmer
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