Senior Colonel Zhou Bo (ret.), senior fellow at the Center for International Security and Strategy of Tsinghua University and China Forum expert, gave an interview to TIME on the Ukraine crisis, which was published on its website under the title “An Insider’s Perspective on China’s Strategy in Ukraine” on March 20.

China has been neutral on the Ukraine crisis and has made it clear sovereignty must be respected, Zhou stressed. Because of China’s relations with Russia, there is a difference in ways that China might provide suggestions or even criticisms, but its clear-cut position on sovereignty should not be misunderstood. China was neither informed nor involved in the conflict—it has nothing to do with this war.

As to whether China can play the role of mediator, Zhou believes that a peace proposal from a third party only works when both sides feel they cannot fight anymore, but neither Russia, Ukraine nor Washington is interested in a ceasefire at the moment.

Zhou also responded to questions about why China has refused to call the Ukraine crisis a ‘war,’ whether China will supply weapons to Russia, what a potential peace agreement would involve, and China’s role and influence in the Middle East. The success on mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia will encourage China to make more proposals, said Zhou.

Read the interview here: https://time.com/6264512/insiders-perspective-on-chinas-strategy-in-ukraine/