What do we need to know about the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting that just convened?

 The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit concluded on September 1, 2026, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, serving as a unified push by Eurasian powers to promote a multipolar world order independent of Western influence. The meeting brought together high-profile leaders—including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian—amid heightened geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Here is what you need to know about the major takeaways and dynamics from the summit:

1. Joint Condemnation of Sanctions and Military Attacks

The central development of the summit was a joint statement strongly condemning the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran, alongside a unified denunciation of Western-imposed economic sanctions against member states. Given that Iran is a full SCO member, the bloc used the platform to slam external military actions and economic blockades, positioning itself as a protective diplomatic shield for its members. [1, 2]

2. China's Push for De-Escalation and Tech Leadership

President Xi Jinping emphasized that the SCO must assume a larger global footprint in technology and security. Making a veiled critique of Washington’s military alliances, Xi praised the SCO's 25-year history of "finding the right way to coexist without alliance". Beijing used the summit to advocate for diplomatic de-escalation in both the Russia-Ukraine war and the Middle East conflict, while reinforcing its strategic support for Iran. [1, 2]

3. De-Dollarization and Local Currency Trade

The bloc highlighted accelerated economic alignment, particularly in bypassing Western financial systems. Vladimir Putin noted that Russia's trade turnover with SCO countries exceeded $400 billion, with member states increasingly relying on their own national currencies for mutual settlements rather than the U.S. dollar. [1, 2]

4. Diverse Interests and Internal Fractures

Despite the clear show of geopolitical unity against Western frameworks, analysts noted that the SCO remains a highly diverse group with competing internal interests. The bloc simultaneously includes nations with deep bilateral frictions—such as India and China, as well as India and Pakistan. The summit functioned less as a strict military or political alliance and more as a pragmatic forum where member nations cooperate to advance individual interests outside of Western oversight. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

The summit concluded Kyrgyzstan's presidency of the organization, with over 500 local and foreign media representatives attending the two-day event. [1, 2, 3]

Viewer comment and response

Comment to a conversaton - Nima Alkhorshid and Pepe Escobar

For most of its 5,000-year history, China was the world's richest and most powerful civilization. Yet it never sought to conquer distant lands. Its neighbors—Japan, Korea, and other smaller kingdoms—paid tribute not out of fear, but as a gesture of respect, acknowledging China's cultural and technological leadership. The architectural, philosophical, and artistic traditions of East Asia all trace back to ancient Chinese empires. Funny thing is after Chinese empire collapsed and lost all of its power British empire attacked China and stole Hong Kong. Japan joining hands with other European power attacked China.

Today, China is simply regaining the position it once held—a return to its historical standing, not a new ambition for domination.

Now contrast this with the West, particularly the United States.

The U.S. was not born from a noble fight for freedom, but from the systematic extermination of 98% of the Native American population by European colonizers. After seizing the land, they declared independence and built a nation on genocide and slavery. Since its founding, the U.S. has been at war for over 95% of its 250-year history, and today maintains over 800 military bases worldwide, projecting power through endless wars, coups, and sanctions.

There is a saying: "A dog's tail never becomes straight."

No matter how the West dresses up its history in the language of "freedom" and "democracy," its origins are rooted in conquest and exploitation. Its behavior today proves its nature has not changed—it is the same colonial aggression, repackaged for the modern era.

Reply:

What is strange is that so many people still cannot see it. What freedom and democracy are we exporting again and again? But that is the excuse or "they hate us for our freedoms and democracy." It has been installed in babies for so long people believe it. People around the world believe it that's why so many always wanted to come here - not so much now.

"freedom of religions" sounds great and I loved it when I came here in 1962. But what it turned into though is dictatorial rule by Christian often Zionist Christian factions. And they are hateful and cruel, far removed from the actual teachings of Christ. Christ never called Muslims Satan worshipers who have to be eliminated and fought in wars. Never of fact he even visited Muslim countries during his any years absence in the bible.

What are the particulars of "protesters in Aden, Shabwa and Hadramaut who are demonstrating for their political rights and the principle of self-determination and their support for the Southern transitional council?

 The phrase you referenced describes mass civic demonstrations across southern Yemen that intensified in early 2026. Protesters took to the streets to support the Southern Transitional Council (STC), demanding the right to self-determination and the restoration of an independent South Yemen. [1, 2, 3]

The primary catalysts, events, and aftermath surrounding these protests include:

1. Political Context and Triggers

• STC Independence Push: In late December 2025 and early January 2026, the UAE-backed STC made major territorial gains and moved toward a declaration of statehood. This prompted a nationwide state of emergency and an aggressive military counteroffensive by the Saudi-backed internationally recognized Yemeni government. [1, 2, 3]
• The Crackdown on the STC: In January 2026, the Yemeni government ordered the official dissolution of the STC. In response, thousands of southern citizens launched widespread demonstrations against what they viewed as political marginalization and "Saudi tutelage" over their homeland. [1, 2, 3]

2. Geographic Focus and Incidents

The demonstrations heavily concentrated in three key southern governorates: [1]

Aden: The de facto southern capital saw repeated, large-scale public rallies. Protesters marched with the flags of the former South Yemen, chanting slogans like "Independence or death". [1, 2, 3, 4]

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Shabwa: Tensions escalated significantly in the city of Ataq. In February 2026, government-aligned forces opened fire on crowds trying to assemble near local government buildings. [1, 2]

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Hadramaut: Rallies occurred across multiple cities, including Mukalla and Seiyun. Protesters notably demanded the exit of northern-aligned military forces (such as the First Military Region) from the valley and desert districts. [1, 2, 3]

3. Human Rights Violations and Casualties

The response by government-aligned security forces led to an international outcry:

• Excessive Force: Comprehensive investigations by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and local reports confirmed that security forces used excessive force, firing directly into crowds of largely unarmed protesters.
• Casualties: At least six peaceful protesters were killed and dozens more were injured during the February crackdowns in Aden and Shabwa alone.
• Arbitrary Detentions: Dozens of activists and demonstrators were subjected to arbitrary arrests. In Hadramaut, many were held for weeks without charge or access to a judge. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

4. International Response

The phrasing you quoted is drawn directly from a formal UK Parliament Early Day Motion (EDM 66153) introduced in mid-2026. The motion formally: [1, 2]

• Condemned the killing, injury, and arbitrary detention of southern political activists.
• Called on the British government to push for independent, transparent investigations into the violence.
• Urged the international community and Gulf partners to pursue a peaceful political solution honoring the democratic aspirations and self-determination of the South Yemeni people. [1]

Rallies and civic disobedience campaigns regarding southern self-determination have continued throughout 2026, fueled by ongoing economic hardship and deep-rooted political friction between the regional factions. [1, 2]

https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/66153/south-yemen

How do the Houthis fit into this conflict?

The Houthis (Ansar Allah) are the dominant military power in northern Yemen and serve as a dangerous external catalyst to the chaos unfolding in the south. While the street protests and political breakdowns in Aden, Shabwa, and Hadramaut are primarily a civil war within the anti-Houthi coalition (the Southern Transitional Council vs. the Saudi-backed Yemeni government), the Houthis fit into this conflict through military opportunism, strategic disruption, and political exploitation. [1, 2, 3, 4]

⚔️ 1. Immediate Military Exploitation

As the official Yemeni government (Presidential Leadership Council/PLC) and Saudi forces spent the early months of 2026 exhausting their military resources to crush the STC's independence bid, the Houthis capitalized on this distraction. [1, 2, 3]

• Frontline Offensives: The Houthis launched broad offensives along frozen frontlines. They engaged in fierce clashes west of Taiz province, attempting to sever strategic supply routes linking Taiz to the Red Sea coast. [1, 2]
• Drone and Missile Waves: The Houthis deployed targeted drone strikes against government-held areas, hitting military checkpoints and positions in Shabwa, Mocha, and the de facto capital of Aden. [1]

 2. Leveraging the "Security Vacuum"

The forced dissolution of the STC and the withdrawal of its UAE backers created deep instability in the southern governorates. The Houthis have strategically exploited this instability: [1, 2]

• Disrupting Local Power Dynamics: By launching border incursions (such as on the Harib-Ayn front near Shabwa), the Houthis force the remaining southern militias, like the Giants Brigades and Shabwa Defense Forces, into active combat, preventing them from stabilizing the protest-ridden cities. [1, 2]
• Strengthening Negotiating Leverage: The deep infighting between the southern separatists and the central government heavily weakens the PLC's political standing. The Houthis use this fractured southern landscape to demand greater concessions from Saudi Arabia in ongoing, back-channel peace talks. [1, 2, 3]

🗒 3. Propaganda and Political Stance

Politically, the Houthis have framed the southern crisis to fit their own narrative:

• The "Foreign Occupation" Narrative: Throughout the internal clashes, the Houthis remained publicly critical of both sides, claiming the conflict proves that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are merely "occupying forces" using divide-and-rule tactics to destroy Yemen.
• Rejection of Southern Secession: While the Houthis weaponize the chaos, they strictly oppose actual southern independence. The Houthis view themselves as the rightful rulers of a unified Yemen and ultimately seek to absorb the oil-rich governorates of Shabwa and Hadramaut into their own administration. [1, 2, 3]

Faction	Primary Backer	Stance on Southern Independence	Current Role in Southern Crisis
Houthis	Iran	Strictly Opposed; seeks a unified Yemen under their rule.	Bombarding border fronts, launching drone waves, and exploiting the security vacuum.
Yemeni Government (PLC)	Saudi Arabia	Strictly Opposed; maintaining legal state sovereignty.	Suppressing the STC street protests and fighting Houthi advances.
STC / Separatists	Formerly UAE	Demanding Independence; self-determination for South Yemen.	Leading mass civic demonstrations and localized armed resistance.

By forcing the Saudi-backed government to fight a two-front war—managing massive civil unrest and militant separatism in the south while holding off a major Houthi ground offensive in the west—the Houthis have successfully reshaped the Yemeni political landscape to their advantage. [1, 2]