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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 woman holds a baby wearing a protective shield during rush hour in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 13.
A woman holds a baby wearing a protective shield during rush hour in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 13.

China Set to Record Its First Population Decline in Decades

China Brief
James Palmer
Smoke belches from a factory near Datong, Shanxi province, China, on Nov. 19, 2015.
Smoke belches from a factory near Datong, Shanxi province, China, on Nov. 19, 2015.

Biden and Xi Expected to Meet at Virtual Climate Summit

China Brief
James Palmer
Battle of Guningtou monument is in Taiwan.
Battle of Guningtou monument is in Taiwan.

China Intensifies Provocations Over Taiwan

China Brief
James Palmer
A health worker administers the vaccine developed by China's Sinovac firm to a woman at Saeng Thip sports ground in Bangkok on April 7.
A health worker administers the vaccine developed by China's Sinovac firm to a woman at Saeng Thip sports ground in Bangkok on April 7.

China’s Vaccine Diplomacy Has Mixed Results

China Brief
James Palmer
Hong Kong Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Roy Tang pose before a press conference at government headquarters in Hong Kong on March 30.
Hong Kong Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Roy Tang pose before a press conference at government headquarters in Hong Kong on March 30.

Another Blow to Hong Kong’s Dying Democracy

China Brief
James Palmer
The Chinese and U.S. delegations speak at talks in Alaska.
The Chinese and U.S. delegations speak at talks in Alaska.

China Hits Back at Western Sanctions

China Brief
James Palmer
Inmates perform play by William Shakespeare.
Inmates perform play by William Shakespeare.

Why Was Roman Politics So Stabby?

Review
James Palmer
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in South Korea.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in South Korea.

U.S. and Chinese Diplomats Set to Meet on Thin Ice

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese personnel stand in formation next to a portrait of President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Oct. 22, 2020.
Chinese personnel stand in formation next to a portrait of President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Oct. 22, 2020.

China’s Military Is Outmatched

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese soldiers march in Beijing
Chinese soldiers march in Beijing

What to Expect From China’s Annual Legislative Sessions

China Brief
James Palmer
An Indian Air Force fighter jet near the Chinese-Indian border.
An Indian Air Force fighter jet near the Chinese-Indian border.

China Admits Casualties in Border Skirmish With India

China Brief
James Palmer
Protesters deface China's national flag on Feb. 11 in Yangon, Myanmar.
Protesters deface China's national flag on Feb. 11 in Yangon, Myanmar.

Why Are Myanmar’s Protesters Targeting China?

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese officials arrive for meetings with the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 29.
Chinese officials arrive for meetings with the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 29.

The WHO Investigation Shows Beijing Still Pulls the Strings

China Brief
James Palmer
Supporters of China’s Muslim Uighur minority hold torches and placards of people allegedly killed in the country’s so-called reeducation camps during a demonstration in Istanbul on Dec. 20, 2019.
Supporters of China’s Muslim Uighur minority hold torches and placards of people allegedly killed in the country’s so-called reeducation camps during a demonstration in Istanbul on Dec. 20, 2019.

Xinjiang’s Camps Enable Systemic Sexual Violence

China Brief
James Palmer
People walk below a giant screen showing news coverage of Chinese President Xi Jinping's virtual speech to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, outside a shopping mall in Beijing on Nov. 19, 2020.
People walk below a giant screen showing news coverage of Chinese President Xi Jinping's virtual speech to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, outside a shopping mall in Beijing on Nov. 19, 2020.

Xi Jinping Shows His Nerves Over Decoupling

China Brief
James Palmer
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