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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
People watch a flight demonstration of Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's J-10s, made for for the People's Liberation Army Air Force, in Zhuhai, China.
People watch a flight demonstration of Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's J-10s, made for for the People's Liberation Army Air Force, in Zhuhai, China.

What Do China’s Taiwan Intrusions Mean?

China Brief
James Palmer
A collection of luxury cars stands outside a restaurant lit up with neon lights at night.
A collection of luxury cars stands outside a restaurant lit up with neon lights at night.

Inside the Seedy, Cutthroat Underbelly of China’s Wealthy Elite

Review
James Palmer
Electrical workers carry out maintenance work on a transmission tower in Qingdao, China, on Sept. 24.
Electrical workers carry out maintenance work on a transmission tower in Qingdao, China, on Sept. 24.

China Faces an Electricity Crisis

China Brief
James Palmer
Meng Wanzhou dressed in a red dress waves as she steps out of a plane with a Chinese flag on the side of it.
Meng Wanzhou dressed in a red dress waves as she steps out of a plane with a Chinese flag on the side of it.

Another Win for China’s Hostage Diplomacy

Explainer
James Palmer
A Chinese flag waves in front of the Evergrande Center building in Shanghai, China, on Sept. 22.
A Chinese flag waves in front of the Evergrande Center building in Shanghai, China, on Sept. 22.

Will China Bail Out Evergrande?

China Brief
James Palmer
The construction site of an Evergrande housing complex is seen in Zhumadian, China, on Sept. 14.
The construction site of an Evergrande housing complex is seen in Zhumadian, China, on Sept. 14.

Has China’s Housing Crisis Finally Arrived?

China Brief
James Palmer
Two girls play video games at a digital art exhibition at a museum in Beijing on Aug. 12.
Two girls play video games at a digital art exhibition at a museum in Beijing on Aug. 12.

Why China Is Cracking Down on Video Games

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves at the Birds Nest stadium in Beijing on June 28.
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves at the Birds Nest stadium in Beijing on June 28.

Xi’s Prosperity Gospel

China Brief
James Palmer
A security guard stands outside the bio-level 4 research lab at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, on Sept. 26, 2002.
A security guard stands outside the bio-level 4 research lab at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, on Sept. 26, 2002.

Why China Keeps Spinning COVID-19 Conspiracies

China Brief
James Palmer
Visitors play video games at the annual Animation-Comic-Game in Hong Kong on July 24.
Visitors play video games at the annual Animation-Comic-Game in Hong Kong on July 24.

Will China Regulate Video Games?

China Brief
James Palmer
Students draw images commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party in Qingzhou, China, on June 24.
Students draw images commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party in Qingzhou, China, on June 24.

Why China Is Cracking Down on Private Tutoring

China Brief
James Palmer
People wade through floodwaters along a street following heavy rains in Zhengzhou.
People wade through floodwaters along a street following heavy rains in Zhengzhou.

China’s Drowned City Is a Bleak Sign of a Changing Climate

China Brief
James Palmer
Flags fly outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Flags fly outside the New York Stock Exchange.

Is Western Finance Underestimating Chinese Political Risk?

China Brief
James Palmer
Ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing's logo is shown on a building in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 4, 2018.
Ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing's logo is shown on a building in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 4, 2018.

Didi’s Tumble Is Another Sign of the Great Decoupling

China Brief
James Palmer
A driver uses the Didi app on his smartphone while driving along the street in Beijing.
A driver uses the Didi app on his smartphone while driving along the street in Beijing.

What Didi Got Wrong

Argument
James Palmer
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