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.

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Articles by James Palmer
A Chinese security guard in a bright yellow uniform stands in the foreground, partially turned to the side, near the entrance of a hotel. The entrance is marked by a large stone gate structure with three red flags flying on top. Security personnel and barriers are visible near the gate, and a black car is passing by on a crosswalk. Tall trees and a building with a radio tower are in the background under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
A Chinese security guard in a bright yellow uniform stands in the foreground, partially turned to the side, near the entrance of a hotel. The entrance is marked by a large stone gate structure with three red flags flying on top. Security personnel and barriers are visible near the gate, and a black car is passing by on a crosswalk. Tall trees and a building with a radio tower are in the background under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

China Announces Military Purge Ahead of Fourth Plenum

China Brief
James Palmer
A container ship is seen from directly above, at the port in Qingdao, China. It is heading toward the left of the image and flanked on its right by a smaller vessel. The containers on the main ship look rectangular from this angle and are brightly colored in shades of orange, red, white, and blue. The water beneath the vessels looks like a dark, almost emerald green.
A container ship is seen from directly above, at the port in Qingdao, China. It is heading toward the left of the image and flanked on its right by a smaller vessel. The containers on the main ship look rectangular from this angle and are brightly colored in shades of orange, red, white, and blue. The water beneath the vessels looks like a dark, almost emerald green.

China’s Rare-Earth Flex Sends the United States Scrambling

China Brief
James Palmer
A woman in a long, brown dress stands in front of a crowd of tourists, her hand stretched above to take a selfie of her group of travelers. Most of the people in the photo are dressed casually, many of them carrying purses and backpacks. They are standing in front of the Shanghai skyline at a popular tourist destination on a partly cloudy day.
A woman in a long, brown dress stands in front of a crowd of tourists, her hand stretched above to take a selfie of her group of travelers. Most of the people in the photo are dressed casually, many of them carrying purses and backpacks. They are standing in front of the Shanghai skyline at a popular tourist destination on a partly cloudy day.

China’s Weak Passports Are Holding Back Its Soft Power

China Brief
James Palmer
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te frowns as he talks with suited representatives from Lockheed Martin. He is wearing a striped tie.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te frowns as he talks with suited representatives from Lockheed Martin. He is wearing a striped tie.

How Taipei Should Handle Washington

China Brief
James Palmer
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner is speaking animatedly from behind a brown podium with a "United States Senate" seal on its front. The room, located in the U.S. Capitol building, has blue carpet and brown, wood-paneled walls, with two U.S. flags standing at the left and right back corners of the frame. To Warner's right is a poster on a stand with "The Restrict Act" in capital letters and a mock-up of an iPhone. Behind Warner are (L-R) Sen. Joe Manchin, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Michael Bennett, Sen. Jerry Moran, and Sen. Mitt Romney, all wearing suits.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner is speaking animatedly from behind a brown podium with a "United States Senate" seal on its front. The room, located in the U.S. Capitol building, has blue carpet and brown, wood-paneled walls, with two U.S. flags standing at the left and right back corners of the frame. To Warner's right is a poster on a stand with "The Restrict Act" in capital letters and a mock-up of an iPhone. Behind Warner are (L-R) Sen. Joe Manchin, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Michael Bennett, Sen. Jerry Moran, and Sen. Mitt Romney, all wearing suits.

Why China Hawks Love Talking About AI

China Brief
James Palmer
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, wearing sunglasses and a dark blue suit, exits a vehicle as he arrives at the Spanish Foreign Ministry in Madrid. Surrounding him are several other people in suits and sunglasses, one opening the door and tapping his arm.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, wearing sunglasses and a dark blue suit, exits a vehicle as he arrives at the Spanish Foreign Ministry in Madrid. Surrounding him are several other people in suits and sunglasses, one opening the door and tapping his arm.

U.S., China Talk Trade and TikTok

China Brief
James Palmer
A photographer takes a photo of a pop art panting of Queen Elizabeth hangin on a wall with an exhibit card displayed next to it.
A photographer takes a photo of a pop art panting of Queen Elizabeth hangin on a wall with an exhibit card displayed next to it.

All the Queen’s Gossips

Review
James Palmer
Russian President Vladimir Putin walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing.

No New World Order Here

China Brief
James Palmer
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

Putin and Xi Have Different Plans to Live Forever

Argument
James Palmer
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Putin Pays Homage at Xi’s Summit

China Brief
James Palmer
New York Mayor Eric Adams marches alongside advisor Winnie Greco in the 21st Autumn Moon Festival and 12th China Day Festival in New York.
New York Mayor Eric Adams marches alongside advisor Winnie Greco in the 21st Autumn Moon Festival and 12th China Day Festival in New York.

Why Does China Care About New York Politics?

China Brief
James Palmer
A woman is seen from behind as she browses a wall of floor-to-ceiling shelving filled with books. Display tables closer to the camera house smaller trinkets, such as plush toys and small art prints. A poster hanging from the ceiling shows four men drawn in a manga style, with the text "Home Far Away" beneath them.
A woman is seen from behind as she browses a wall of floor-to-ceiling shelving filled with books. Display tables closer to the camera house smaller trinkets, such as plush toys and small art prints. A poster hanging from the ceiling shows four men drawn in a manga style, with the text "Home Far Away" beneath them.

A Guide to Censorship in China

China Brief
James Palmer
Three men and a woman are seated outdoors.
Three men and a woman are seated outdoors.

China Is Still Afraid of Losing World War II

Argument
James Palmer
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the White House in Washington.
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the White House in Washington.

A New Chapter in the U.S.-China Chip Trade

China Brief
James Palmer
A man rides a motorcycle on a flooded street in Miyun district, northern Beijing.
A man rides a motorcycle on a flooded street in Miyun district, northern Beijing.

Devastating Floods Highlight Beijing’s Water Problems

China Brief
James Palmer
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