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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 boy plays in front of the Chinese flag at Wuhan Revolution Museum in Wuhan, China, on Oct. 7.
A boy plays in front of the Chinese flag at Wuhan Revolution Museum in Wuhan, China, on Oct. 7.

Why Trump Will Blame Beijing for a Biden Victory

Election 2020
James Palmer
A woman wears a “Trump 2020” face mask at a rally for incumbent Republican Senate candidate Joni Ernst in Davenport, Iowa, on Oct. 31.
A woman wears a “Trump 2020” face mask at a rally for incumbent Republican Senate candidate Joni Ernst in Davenport, Iowa, on Oct. 31.

Why the Pandemic Didn’t Hurt Trump

Election 2020
James Palmer
A waitress watches a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump on a television during at a local bar on Nov. 4, 2020 in Beijing, China.
A waitress watches a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump on a television during at a local bar on Nov. 4, 2020 in Beijing, China.

China Isn’t Nervous About the U.S. Election

China Brief
James Palmer
voter-turnout-comparison-major-democracies-us-election-2020-social
voter-turnout-comparison-major-democracies-us-election-2020-social

Historic U.S. Turnout Still Lags Behind Major Democracies

Election 2020
James Palmer, Audrey Wilson
China's President Xi Jinping
China's President Xi Jinping

China Probably Doesn’t Care Who Wins

Election 2020
James Palmer
Donald Trump Jr. speaks during the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington on Aug. 24.
Donald Trump Jr. speaks during the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington on Aug. 24.

What Would Happen if the Whole World Were Voting Today?

Election 2020
James Palmer
Chinese soldiers from the People's Liberation Army march after a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of China's entry into the Korean War, on Oct. 23 in Beijing.
Chinese soldiers from the People's Liberation Army march after a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of China's entry into the Korean War, on Oct. 23 in Beijing.

Xi Is Out to Prove That This Is China’s Moment

China Brief
James Palmer
US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping arrive at a business leaders event inside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 9, 2017.
US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping arrive at a business leaders event inside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 9, 2017.

Why Does Trump Have a Chinese Bank Account?

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives with Premier Li Keqiang for a reception at the Great Hall of the People on the eve of China's National Day on Sept. 30.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives with Premier Li Keqiang for a reception at the Great Hall of the People on the eve of China's National Day on Sept. 30.

Xi Just Grabbed More Bureaucratic Power

China Brief
James Palmer
A customer shops for vegetables at a market in Shenyang, China, on Sept. 9.
A customer shops for vegetables at a market in Shenyang, China, on Sept. 9.

Are China’s Shelves Running Empty?

China Brief
James Palmer
Chaopan Lin of China competes in the men's horizontal bar final during day 10 of the 49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on Oct. 13, 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany.
Chaopan Lin of China competes in the men's horizontal bar final during day 10 of the 49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on Oct. 13, 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany.

Why Is China Sabotaging Its Own Athletes?

China Brief
James Palmer
A video still shows members of Azerbaijan's armed forces firing artillery during clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh in an unidentified location, from footage released Sept. 28.
A video still shows members of Azerbaijan's armed forces firing artillery during clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh in an unidentified location, from footage released Sept. 28.

Why Are Armenia and Azerbaijan Heading to War? This article has an audio recording

Explainer
James Palmer
 
 

TikTok’s Sale to Oracle Doesn’t Fix Anything


China Brief
James Palmer
Posters at the European premiere of Disney's "Mulan"
Posters at the European premiere of Disney's "Mulan"

Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Disaster Highlights Dangers of China Deals

Argument
James Palmer
A Su-35 fighter jet
A Su-35 fighter jet

Indian Social Media Goes Nuts Over Fake Claim of Su-35 Shootdown

Argument
James Palmer
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