James Kynge is a Senior Research Fellow for China and the World with the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House. He specializes in China's politics, economics, society, and culture. Before joining Chatham House in September 2025, Kynge spent 28 years at the Financial Times, serving as Global China editor and Beijing bureau chief. He worked in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan for almost 20 years. Kynge is a fluent Mandarin speaker and frequently comments on Chinese and Asian issues for media outlets like NPR, CNN, and the BBC.
Kynge is known for his expertise on China's economic development and its global influence. His book, China Shakes the World (2006), which describes China's rise as a superpower, was a bestseller translated into 19 languages and won the 2006 Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award. He also headed the business operations of the Pearson Group of companies in China until 2008 and founded FT Confidential Research, a premium research service on China and South East Asia, in 2009. Kynge's recent work includes a 15-episode podcast series for FT Tech Tonic (2023) that explores China's rapid technological advancements and their impact. This podcast is the basis for his audiobook, Global Tech Wars: China's Race to Dominate, released in 2025.