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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
Riot police secure an area during a rally in Hong Kong's Central district on May 27.
Riot police secure an area during a rally in Hong Kong's Central district on May 27.

Hong Kong Is in Danger

China Brief
James Palmer
Dominic Cummings
Dominic Cummings

Britain Hates Johnson’s Machiavelli

Explainer
James Palmer
People's Liberation Army soldiers stand at attention in front of photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 20.
People's Liberation Army soldiers stand at attention in front of photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 20.

Why the WHO Investigation Won’t Work

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese paramilitary police wear protective masks as they guard the entrance to the Forbidden City as it reopened to limited visitors for the May holiday in Beijing on May 2.
Chinese paramilitary police wear protective masks as they guard the entrance to the Forbidden City as it reopened to limited visitors for the May holiday in Beijing on May 2.

China’s Coronavirus Success Is Made Possible by Xi’s Brutality

Argument
James Palmer
The Embassy of the People's Republic of China is seen on May 12 in Canberra, Australia.
The Embassy of the People's Republic of China is seen on May 12 in Canberra, Australia.

Why China Is Punishing Australia

China Brief
James Palmer
U.S. President Donald Trump the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus at the White House in Washington on April 7.
U.S. President Donald Trump the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus at the White House in Washington on April 7.

Trump’s Virus Origin Theories Could Spark a Beijing Backlash

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese police march in Tiananmen Square on April 28 in Beijing, where life is slowly returning to normal following the city's coronavirus lockdown.
Chinese police march in Tiananmen Square on April 28 in Beijing, where life is slowly returning to normal following the city's coronavirus lockdown.

Beijing Doubles Down on Diplomatic Aggression

China Brief
James Palmer
Guards keep watch at a checkpoint in the border city of Suifenhe, in China's northeastern Heilongjiang province, on April 21.
Guards keep watch at a checkpoint in the border city of Suifenhe, in China's northeastern Heilongjiang province, on April 21.

How Will China Respond to New Coronavirus Outbreaks?

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian speaks at the daily media briefing in Beijing on April 8.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian speaks at the daily media briefing in Beijing on April 8.

Why Chinese Embassies Have Embraced Aggressive Diplomacy

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese commuters wear protective masks during rush hour in Beijing's central business district on April 7.
Chinese commuters wear protective masks during rush hour in Beijing's central business district on April 7.

What a Start-Up Crash Reveals About China’s Post-Coronavirus Economy

China Brief
James Palmer
books-in-brief-spring-20202
books-in-brief-spring-20202

Books in Brief

Review
Audrey Wilson, Robbie Gramer, James Palmer
A Chinese man wears a protective mask as he runs on March 31 in Beijing.
A Chinese man wears a protective mask as he runs on March 31 in Beijing.

What to Make of China’s Coronavirus Figures

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese tourist information clerks wear protective masks and visors in the arrivals area at Beijing Capital International Airport on March 24.
Chinese tourist information clerks wear protective masks and visors in the arrivals area at Beijing Capital International Airport on March 24.

China Turns Inward in the Face of Pandemic

China Brief
James Palmer
The empty courtyard of a usually busy shopping mall is seen on March 10, 2020 in Beijing, China.
The empty courtyard of a usually busy shopping mall is seen on March 10, 2020 in Beijing, China.

The Coronavirus Has Put the U.S.-China Relationship on Life Support

China Brief
James Palmer
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security officer
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security officer

Trump Can’t Deport the Coronavirus

Argument
James Palmer
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