FT：Do you feel that China has leverage with Russia, given that China is certainly a diplomatic ally of Russia? And if China does have leverage with Russia, can China use that leverage to prevent Russia from escalating the military conflict, perhaps beyond Ukraine into other parts of Europe?
Zhou Bo：I think China's leverage is certainly there.
For example, let's think about this. The world is afraid that President Putin might resort to use of nuclear weapons.China's voice matters, and China's friendship with Russia would matter all the more on this issue. So probably it has already played a significant role in reducing such nightmare from happening.
FT：Right. And is this a conscious effort by China at the moment, or is it a sort of passive wish that China has that Russia should restrain itself from any scenario in which it might use nuclear weapons?
Zhou Bo：As I said before, this is a difficult situation for China. But China is the second-largest economy in the world. China is a member of UN Security Council.
On such issue that is totally, deeply rooted in humanity, China must have its voice voiced.China must show to the international community what is the right thing to do and what are forbidden things that should never be carried out.
If we talk about the Global South, there are many countries who actually, more or less, would have sort of sympathies with Russia's position. So when we talk about world views we cannot only talk about what people think in the west.We have to think about the global response on this matter.
FT：Who would China primarily blame for the war in Ukraine? Would it be the eastward expansion of NATO, or would it be Putin's actions?
Zhou Bo：I would say NATO’s expansion is very much the fundamental reason why Russia has actually taken such actions.
So, for military alliances they have to find a threat to justify their own existence, to justify the expansion. Because they live by expansion.
But when I think about Nato I believe it is not morally justifiable for the continued existence of Nato.