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
Workers are seen as cranes load containers from trucks onto a ship at the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in Ningbo, in China’s eastern Zhejiang province.
Workers are seen as cranes load containers from trucks onto a ship at the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in Ningbo, in China’s eastern Zhejiang province.

The Paradox at the Heart of China’s Export Boom

China Brief
James Palmer
A Chinese paramilitary police officer stands guard before security cameras at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
A Chinese paramilitary police officer stands guard before security cameras at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

The Limits of China’s Surveillance State

China Brief
James Palmer
A young girl of about 5 years old is seen in profile as she stands with her parents in a crowd of people waiting to pass through security to enter Tiananmen Square. Her face is seen in dappled sunlight, in contrast to the shaded background, where all the adults are obscured in shadow. Behind her, a man is holding two small Chinese flags in one hand and using his phone with the other.
A young girl of about 5 years old is seen in profile as she stands with her parents in a crowd of people waiting to pass through security to enter Tiananmen Square. Her face is seen in dappled sunlight, in contrast to the shaded background, where all the adults are obscured in shadow. Behind her, a man is holding two small Chinese flags in one hand and using his phone with the other.

Why Chinese Parents Don’t Want Two Kids

China Brief
James Palmer
U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. first lady Melania Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and his wife, Peng Liyuan, walk down the steps after a visit to the National Archives in Washington.
U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. first lady Melania Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and his wife, Peng Liyuan, walk down the steps after a visit to the National Archives in Washington.

Was Xi’s U.S. Visit a Bust?

China Brief
James Palmer
About a dozen members of a U.S. military honor guard stand outside the White House, which looms at a slightly skewed angle in the background. The service members wear formal dress uniforms, including brimmed hats, and carry Chinese and U.S. flags.
About a dozen members of a U.S. military honor guard stand outside the White House, which looms at a slightly skewed angle in the background. The service members wear formal dress uniforms, including brimmed hats, and carry Chinese and U.S. flags.

Don’t Expect Fireworks From the Trump-Xi Summit

China Brief
James Palmer
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for photos at Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for photos at Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing.

Trump and Xi Won’t Find Common Ground on AI Safety

China Brief
James Palmer
An officer runs back to his position after correcting People’s Liberation Army soldiers during a practice for a military parade, in Beijing.
An officer runs back to his position after correcting People’s Liberation Army soldiers during a practice for a military parade, in Beijing.

Why Is China’s Officer Corps So Sprawling?

China Brief
James Palmer
Two men are seen walking toward the camera, barefoot on a muddy path still strewn with scattered puddles. Low-rise buildings are visible in a background, surrounded by lush green mountains.
Two men are seen walking toward the camera, barefoot on a muddy path still strewn with scattered puddles. Low-rise buildings are visible in a background, surrounded by lush green mountains.

Nepal’s Deadly Floods Put China and India on Edge

China Brief
James Palmer
Humanoid robots are seen from slightly above as they compete in a 100-meter dash on a blue and white track. On the left, a silver and black robot is seen running toward the camera. On the right, a black and red robot has fallen to the ground, its limbs flailing.
Humanoid robots are seen from slightly above as they compete in a 100-meter dash on a blue and white track. On the left, a silver and black robot is seen running toward the camera. On the right, a black and red robot has fallen to the ground, its limbs flailing.

The U.S. Can’t Catch Up to China’s Robots by Banning Them

China Brief
James Palmer
The beachside resort of Beidaihe is seen as China’s senior leaders gathered for their annual retreat.
The beachside resort of Beidaihe is seen as China’s senior leaders gathered for their annual retreat.

China’s Leaders Go on a Summer Retreat

China Brief
James Palmer
A girl and a humanoid robot stand across from each other in mirrored positions with both arms raised overhead, like fifth position in ballet. The girl is seen from behind, and the robot is facing the camera.
A girl and a humanoid robot stand across from each other in mirrored positions with both arms raised overhead, like fifth position in ballet. The girl is seen from behind, and the robot is facing the camera.

Why Is AI So Popular in China?

China Brief
James Palmer
A yellow-and-black excavator deposits a bucketful of sand into the bed of a truck parked at the shore of a river. The river water is cloudy and brown, and the beach is similarly brown and lacking vegetation. Two man stand at the shore in the distance, one of them casting a fishing pole.
A yellow-and-black excavator deposits a bucketful of sand into the bed of a truck parked at the shore of a river. The river water is cloudy and brown, and the beach is similarly brown and lacking vegetation. Two man stand at the shore in the distance, one of them casting a fishing pole.

China Launches New Crackdown on Organized Crime

China Brief
James Palmer
An exterior view of Xinhua Hospital is seen in Shanghai.
An exterior view of Xinhua Hospital is seen in Shanghai.

Scandal Exposes Limits of China’s Scientific Rise

China Brief
James Palmer
Jim Jones (center), leader of the Peoples Temple cult, and some of his followers are seen in an undated photograph found in an album in Jonestown, Guyana.
Jim Jones (center), leader of the Peoples Temple cult, and some of his followers are seen in an undated photograph found in an album in Jonestown, Guyana.

The Jonestown Massacre in Black and White

Review
James Palmer
U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington.
U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington.

Trump’s China Threats Don’t Match His China Policy

China Brief
James Palmer
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