China Brief
China Brief is your expert guide to how Beijing is conducting its domestic and foreign policy. FP’s James Palmer, a longtime China correspondent, will keep you up to date with all the news and analysis you need to keep track of the world’s second-biggest economy. Delivered Tuesday.
Sign up for the newsletter to receive exclusive savings on a subscription to everything FP offers.
Russia’s Isolation Spurs Rethink in China
As Moscow grapples with the swift effects of economic sanctions, Beijing looks toward self-sufficiency.
Did Russia Catch China Off Guard in Ukraine?
Beijing may have at least bought Moscow’s narrative of a quick invasion.
China’s Murky Position on Ukraine
Beijing has indicated tacit support of Moscow, but there is some uncertainty behind the scenes.
Eileen Gu and the Chimerican Dream
The Olympic freestyle skier has stirred controversy for representing China. She is the product of a vanishing shared space between the Chinese and American elite.
Beijing Locals Shrug as Winter Olympics Begin
With China’s closed-loop system around the Games, it’s not clear who’s watching.
How Beijing’s COVID-19 Outbreak Exposes Urban Poverty
Most middle-class Chinese rarely get a glimpse of the lives of the migrant workers who keep the city running.
The Omicron Variant Arrives in Beijing
With two weeks to go before the start of the Winter Olympics, China is doubling down on COVID-19 conspiracy theories.
As Another City Locks Down, China Is on High Alert
Tianjin’s proximity to Beijing is a chief concern for leaders, especially as the Winter Olympics near.
Can China Lock Down Again?
The city of Xian illustrates the challenges of the zero-COVID-19 strategy in the omicron era.
The Stories That Could Define China in 2022
From the threat of omicron to Xi’s third term, these are the trends to watch.
How Will China Respond to the Omicron Variant?
Despite few recorded cases, Beijing is likely to tighten restrictions—especially ahead of the Winter Olympics.
Macao’s Casino Industry Is Struggling
A high-profile arrest and political disapproval add to COVID-19-induced woes.
Peng Shuai and the CCP’s Clumsy Propaganda Effort
The cover-up adds to pressure for a U.S. boycott of the Olympics.
Xi-Biden Summit Produces Few Breakthroughs
The White House still lacks a coherent China strategy.
How Will Xi Jinping Rewrite History?
At a meeting this week, the Chinese leader will take the opportunity to turn his narrative into doctrine.