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

James Palmer

Deputy Editor james.palmer@foreignpolicy.com

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 President Xi Jinping (left) looks on as former President Hu Jintao is escorted from the closing session of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 22.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) looks on as former President Hu Jintao is escorted from the closing session of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 22.

What the Heck Just Happened to Hu Jintao?

Analysis
James Palmer
People watch the opening session of the 20th Chinese National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Huaibei, China, on Oct. 16.
People watch the opening session of the 20th Chinese National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Huaibei, China, on Oct. 16.

What Did Xi Say at China’s 20th Party Congress?

China Brief
James Palmer
Party members walk by an image showing Chinese President Xi Jinping at an exhibition highlighting his years as leader as part of the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party on Oct. 12 in Beijing.
Party members walk by an image showing Chinese President Xi Jinping at an exhibition highlighting his years as leader as part of the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party on Oct. 12 in Beijing.

What to Expect at China’s 20th Party Congress

China Brief
James Palmer
China-brief-book-roundup
China-brief-book-roundup

8 Books to Read Ahead of China’s 20th Party Congress

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 16.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 16.

What a False Coup Rumor Reveals About Chinese Politics

China Brief
James Palmer
People line up to be tested for COVID-19 next to a propaganda poster showing Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Aug. 31.
People line up to be tested for COVID-19 next to a propaganda poster showing Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Aug. 31.

Bus Crash Amplifies Zero-COVID Frustration

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese President Xi Jinping leaves the podium following his speech in Hong Kong on July 1.
Chinese President Xi Jinping leaves the podium following his speech in Hong Kong on July 1.

Homebody Xi Finally Steps Outside China

China Brief
James Palmer
People walk in front of a residential area under lockdown due to COVID-19 restrictions in Beijing on June 23.
People walk in front of a residential area under lockdown due to COVID-19 restrictions in Beijing on June 23.

China’s COVID-19 Stagnation Has No End in Sight

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi takes part in a press conference on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Aug. 5.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi takes part in a press conference on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Aug. 5.

Beijing’s Diplomacy Suffers in Europe

China Brief
James Palmer
A Taiwanese military outpost is seen beyond anti-landing spikes along the coast in Kinmen, Taiwan, on Aug. 10.
A Taiwanese military outpost is seen beyond anti-landing spikes along the coast in Kinmen, Taiwan, on Aug. 10.

Why Doesn’t China Invade Taiwan?

China Brief
James Palmer
Pelosi waves standing in a group of people, all wearing masks.
Pelosi waves standing in a group of people, all wearing masks.

China Responds to Pelosi’s Taiwan Trip

China Brief
James Palmer
U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi holds her weekly press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on July 21.
U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi holds her weekly press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on July 21.

Pelosi’s Taiwan Trip Causes a Ruckus in Washington

China Brief
James Palmer
Construction workers walk by signs advertising a development project as they leave work in Beijing on July 15.
Construction workers walk by signs advertising a development project as they leave work in Beijing on July 15.

Chinese Mortgage Boycott Gains Steam

China Brief
James Palmer
Chinese demonstrators hold banners during a protest over the freezing of deposits by rural-based banks outside a People’s Bank of China building in Zhengzhou, China, on July 10.
Chinese demonstrators hold banners during a protest over the freezing of deposits by rural-based banks outside a People’s Bank of China building in Zhengzhou, China, on July 10.

The Chinese Protesters Who Got What They Wanted—Sort of

China Brief
James Palmer
A view of the Four Seasons hotel in Hong Kong on Feb. 1, 2017. Billionaire Xiao Jianhua was abducted from the property days earlier.
A view of the Four Seasons hotel in Hong Kong on Feb. 1, 2017. Billionaire Xiao Jianhua was abducted from the property days earlier.

How Xiao Jianhua Angered President Xi

China Brief
James Palmer
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