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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
Chinese street vendors wait for customers at a local market outside a state-owned coal-fired power plant in Anhui province, China, in June.
Chinese street vendors wait for customers at a local market outside a state-owned coal-fired power plant in Anhui province, China, in June.

Why Doesn’t China Have Its Own Greta Thunberg?

China Brief
James Palmer
Pro-democracy protesters participate in a human chain event in Victoria Park in Hong Kong on Sept. 18.
Pro-democracy protesters participate in a human chain event in Victoria Park in Hong Kong on Sept. 18.

Are Hong Kong’s Protests Dying Down?

China Brief
James Palmer
A customer shops for pork at a market in Beijing on September 5.
A customer shops for pork at a market in Beijing on September 5.

Why China’s Leaders Are Losing Sleep Over Pigs

China Brief
James Palmer
People walk past a screen replaying Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam's announcement of the formal withdrawal of the extradition bill on September 4 in Hong Kong.
People walk past a screen replaying Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam's announcement of the formal withdrawal of the extradition bill on September 4 in Hong Kong.

Will Hong Kong’s Protesters Accept Carrie Lam’s Concession?

China Brief
James Palmer
Queen Elizabeth II welcomes the newly elected leader of the Conservative party, Boris Johnson on July 24, 2019 in London, England.
Queen Elizabeth II welcomes the newly elected leader of the Conservative party, Boris Johnson on July 24, 2019 in London, England.

The Queen Can’t Do Anything About Brexit

Explainer
James Palmer
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters at the G-7 summit in Biarritz, France, on Aug. 26. Trump’s remarks on U.S.-China trade during the summit prompted confusion.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters at the G-7 summit in Biarritz, France, on Aug. 26. Trump’s remarks on U.S.-China trade during the summit prompted confusion.

The Mysterious Case of Trump’s Trade Calls With China

China Brief
James Palmer
Protesters gather outside the Central Government complex after a march during a demonstration on in Hong Kong on August 18.
Protesters gather outside the Central Government complex after a march during a demonstration on in Hong Kong on August 18.

Decoding China’s 280-Character Web of Disinformation

China Brief
James Palmer
A pro-democracy protester holds a placard during a demonstration at Hong Kong's international airport on August 13.
A pro-democracy protester holds a placard during a demonstration at Hong Kong's international airport on August 13.

Can Hong Kong’s Protests Survive?

China Brief
James Palmer
A screen showing stock prices at a securities company in Beijing on August 5.
A screen showing stock prices at a securities company in Beijing on August 5.

Is China Starting a Currency War?

China Brief
James Palmer
A woman places flowers beside a makeshift memorial outside the Cielo Vista Mall Wal-Mart where a shooting left 20 people dead in El Paso, Texas, on August 4, 2019.
A woman places flowers beside a makeshift memorial outside the Cielo Vista Mall Wal-Mart where a shooting left 20 people dead in El Paso, Texas, on August 4, 2019.

How Does Online Racism Spawn Mass Shooters?

Explainer
James Palmer
Protesters face off with police during a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on June 12, 2019.
Protesters face off with police during a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on June 12, 2019.

Why Is Hong Kong Erupting?

Explainer
James Palmer
Debunker-china-STEM-Joan-Wong
Debunker-china-STEM-Joan-Wong

China’s Overrated Technocrats

Debunker
James Palmer
In this picture taken on March 15, 2018, local resident Truong Thi Hong, 76, looks at the names of relatives killed during the My Lai massacre at the war memorial museum in Son My village, Quang Ngai province.
In this picture taken on March 15, 2018, local resident Truong Thi Hong, 76, looks at the names of relatives killed during the My Lai massacre at the war memorial museum in Son My village, Quang Ngai province.

America Loves Excusing Its War Criminals

Argument
James Palmer
Jon Snow in Game of Thrones.
Jon Snow in Game of Thrones.

What to Read If ‘Game of Thrones’ Let You Down

Five Best Books
James Palmer
HP_rat_patrol_lead_Alberta_Canada
HP_rat_patrol_lead_Alberta_Canada

How Alberta Won the Rat Race

The Fix
James Palmer
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