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

Follow James Palmer:
On Bluesky
Articles by James Palmer
A woman wearing a heavy winter parka with the hood pulled up is seen from behind as she sits on a bench beneath the roof of a gazebo near the Chinese border. The gazebo is surrounded by a low metal fence, past which are snow-covered fields and mountains rising up beyond that against a cloudy sky.
A woman wearing a heavy winter parka with the hood pulled up is seen from behind as she sits on a bench beneath the roof of a gazebo near the Chinese border. The gazebo is surrounded by a low metal fence, past which are snow-covered fields and mountains rising up beyond that against a cloudy sky.

North Korea and Myanmar Cause Headaches in Beijing

China Brief
James Palmer
A pedestrian walks on a street in Beijing at night beneath a dark sky, passing by a short wall covered by advertisements while skyscrapers loom in the background. The ads are covered with photos of various buildings and architectural details.
A pedestrian walks on a street in Beijing at night beneath a dark sky, passing by a short wall covered by advertisements while skyscrapers loom in the background. The ads are covered with photos of various buildings and architectural details.

China Can’t Boost Consumer Confidence

China Brief
James Palmer
A monkey like figure in warrior clothing with a weapon.
A monkey like figure in warrior clothing with a weapon.

‘Black Myth: Wukong’ Is Full of Monkey Magic

Review
James Palmer
The Chinese and U.S. flags are seen during a meeting between U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Guangzhou, China, on April 5.
The Chinese and U.S. flags are seen during a meeting between U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Guangzhou, China, on April 5.

Chinese Hackers Target U.S. Telecoms

China Brief
James Palmer
Ambassador Fu Cong, the permanent representative of China to the United Nations, speaks during a U.N. Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East at the U.N. Headquarters in New York on July 31.
Ambassador Fu Cong, the permanent representative of China to the United Nations, speaks during a U.N. Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East at the U.N. Headquarters in New York on July 31.

China Says It Backs Iran. Does It?

China Brief
James Palmer
Dark clouds hang over the skyline of Changsha, China, on April 29.
Dark clouds hang over the skyline of Changsha, China, on April 29.

Chinese Official’s Suspicious Death Stirs Speculation

China Brief
James Palmer
Elderly people rest at a park in Fuyang, China, on Sept. 13.
Elderly people rest at a park in Fuyang, China, on Sept. 13.

China Half-Heartedly Raises Retirement Age

China Brief
James Palmer
Silhouettes of undergraduates dance on a stage with a giant Chinese flag in the background.
Silhouettes of undergraduates dance on a stage with a giant Chinese flag in the background.

Peter Hessler’s ‘Rivers’ Have Been Damned by the Chinese Government

Review
James Palmer
The white marble dome of the U.S. Capitol building looms over a deep blue sky. Several people can be seen in the foreground as they walk across the plaza in front of the building.
The white marble dome of the U.S. Capitol building looms over a deep blue sky. Several people can be seen in the foreground as they walk across the plaza in front of the building.

Back From Recess, U.S. Congress Targets China

China Brief
James Palmer
Cars wait to be loaded onto a vessel for export at a port in Taicang, China.
Cars wait to be loaded onto a vessel for export at a port in Taicang, China.

Oversupply Begins to Bite in China

China Brief
James Palmer
Residents conduct a study session about the communique of the third plenary meeting of the 20th Chinese Communist Party Central Committee in Hangzhou, China, on July 19.
Residents conduct a study session about the communique of the third plenary meeting of the 20th Chinese Communist Party Central Committee in Hangzhou, China, on July 19.

Chinese Card Game Turns Political

China Brief
James Palmer
From left: Chinese swimmers Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Sun Jiajun, and Pan Zhanle pose after winning the men's 4x100m medley relay at Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, France, on Aug. 4.
From left: Chinese swimmers Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Sun Jiajun, and Pan Zhanle pose after winning the men's 4x100m medley relay at Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, France, on Aug. 4.

China’s Swimming Victories Marred by Criticism

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese athletes wave flags on the team boat along the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Chinese athletes wave flags on the team boat along the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

What the Olympics Mean to China

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese President Xi Jinping walks on a red carpet to seats at the Chinese Communist Party's Third Plenum in Beijing. He and other CCP leaders wear red badges.
Chinese President Xi Jinping walks on a red carpet to seats at the Chinese Communist Party's Third Plenum in Beijing. He and other CCP leaders wear red badges.

Why Xi Won’t Retire

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a bilateral meeting with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 28.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a bilateral meeting with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 28.

China’s Third Plenum, Explained

China Brief
James Palmer
Load more by James Palmer Return to staff list

Latest

See All Stories

Trending

  1. 1
    China Tech Ai Innovation Economy Stagnation
  2. 2
    Iran Snapback Sanctions Strategy
  3. 3
    Trump Knesset Speech Israel Gaza Cease Fire Hostages Hamas Netanuyahu
  4. 4
    Trump Women Rights Us State Department Policy
  5. 5
    Trump Nobel Peace Prize Announcement