Chapter Thirty: The Gate of Yemen

  The Ottoman Turkish Empire pursued a policy of racial discrimination and oppression during its rule in Yemen and Asir, which caused widespread strong dissatisfaction among the local people.

  Starting from 1891, Yemen was the scene of intermittent revolts against Ottoman rule, led by the Zaidi imam Mohammed ibn Yahya.

  After al-Idrisi's death, his son Yahya succeeded him and continued to lead the Yemeni people in armed struggle against Ottoman Turkish rule, gaining autonomy in 1917.

  In 1918, when World War I ended, Ottoman Turkey, as a defeated nation, finally withdrew all its troops from Yemen and Yemen declared independence, establishing the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen, thus becoming the first Arab country to be free from colonial rule.

  In 1934, Yemen and Saudi Arabia went to war, with Yemen losing. Britain took advantage of the situation and forced Yemen to sign what was called a "Treaty of Friendship and Non-Aggression".

  This treaty redivided Yemen into three parts.

  The Mutawakkilite Kingdom under Imam Yahya.

  Aden and its eastern and western protectorates under British rule.

  Qatif, Najran and Ahsa regions are part of Saudi Arabia's territory.

  Thus, the situation of the southern and northern gates forming a border was formed.

  From the late 18th century to the early 19th century, British colonialists also expanded their power along the coast of the Persian Gulf and southern Arabia.

  In 1799, British colonizers took advantage of their strong ships and cannons to occupy the island of Perim, which controlled the entrance to the Red Sea, and established a naval base.

  In 1839, it also resorted to force to occupy the long-coveted European traffic hub and the prosperous transit trade port connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean - Aden Port.

  Between 1870 and 1880, British influence in Aden extended inland under the pretext of putting down Arab piracy and slave trading. The British signed protective treaties with nine tribes of the hinterland, thereby creating a buffer between their territory and that of Turkey.

  The basic content of these treaties is roughly the same, with main clauses including that they shall not lease or transfer their land to anyone in any way without prior British approval, nor accept agents and representatives appointed by any country and government, conduct diplomatic negotiations with other countries, establish diplomatic relations, etc.

  Britain would provide them with assistance in accordance with the agreement and establish an alliance relationship, making them immune from external aggression.

  On this basis, South Arabia established so-called Eastern Aden Protectorate and Western Aden Protectorate.

  As a result, the Eastern and Western Asia Dings were freed from the long-term control and influence of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, which also meant that Britain established its suzerainty and protectorate relationship with the above-mentioned regions.

  In fact, this also became the beginning of the division between North and South Yemen.

  After Yemen was divided into two parts, the people of both countries continued to wage their struggles against feudalism and colonialism in their respective countries, brewing new revolutionary storms.

  On September 26, 1962, the people of northern Yemen, led by a group of lower-ranking military officers known as the Free Officers Movement, successfully launched a revolution that was supported and participated in by the masses, overthrowing the feudal monarchy of the Hamidaddin dynasty, establishing a republic, and forming the Arab Republic of Yemen, commonly referred to as North Yemen.

  At the same time, the people of South Yemen also formed a unified anti-British organization - the National Front - through the joint efforts of various parties around 1961.

  In October 1963, the National Front ignited the flames of armed struggle against British colonialism in South Yemen from the Radfan Mountains.

  After four years of bloody struggle, the people of South Yemen finally got rid of 129 years of British colonial rule on November 30, 1966, declared independence and established the People's Republic of South Yemen.

  After that, the unification of North and South Yemen became a topic of popular discussion and a common desire for the whole nation.

  Both North and South Korea explicitly declare their desire for reunification in their respective constitutions, and leaders of the two countries begin to make contact with each other seeking a way towards unification.

  In short, the development and changes in relations between the two countries have always revolved around the issue of unification.

  It goes without saying that the reunification of North and South Korea requires a certain ideological and social foundation, which is an indispensable prerequisite.

  However, the two governments have taken two completely opposing paths.

  The North also chose the path of development towards capitalism, adhering to a relatively free economic policy, while implementing a line of national reconciliation at home, absorbing former royalist members who were enemies of the young republic into the government.

  The government of North Yemen also actively sought the cooperation and unity of large and small tribes and their leaders, especially the most influential Hashid tribal leader in the north, Sheikh Ahmar.

  In terms of foreign relations, North Yemen had a clear pro-Western inclination and established relations with Saudi Arabia, the United States and Britain.

  In contrast, South Yemen had a development path that was distinctly Soviet in orientation, the only Arab country in the Middle East to have such a tendency.

  It signed a 20-year treaty of friendship and cooperation with the Soviet Union and maintained close relations with Cuba and East Germany.

  South and North Korea's differences in political systems and ideologies continued to widen, becoming an obstacle to reunification. Relations between the two countries deteriorated rapidly, with each side supporting opposition forces that strengthened their activities against their respective governments. Border clashes occurred frequently, eventually leading to the outbreak of war in September 1966.

  North Yemen occupied the coastal island of Kamaran and denied ownership of the Red Sea entrance island of Perim.

  The army of South Yemen marched towards Kataba and a fierce war lasted for nearly a month.

  As armed clashes escalated daily between the two countries, mediation was conducted by the Arab League.

  In October of that year, North and South Yemen signed the Cairo Agreement for unification.

  Later, the Tripoli Declaration was issued, signed by the heads of state of both countries.

  The Cairo Declaration stipulates the establishment of a unified state with only one capital, one president and unified legislation, judiciary and administration.

  That is to say, North and South Yemen will merge into a complete country.

  The Cairo Agreement heralded the gradual opening of the gate for Yemeni unification.

  However, due to the long-standing and unbridgeable rifts and contradictions between North and South Yemen, various factors have caused the grudges and grievances to linger, making it impossible for North and South Yemen to seek reunification through negotiations, and the great cause of unity is within sight but out of reach.

  The outbreak of the Yemeni Civil War is closely related to the long-standing historical grievances and the legacy of colonialism, which is a latent cause of the conflict.

  In the Indian Ocean off the coast of Yemen lies a magical island - Socotra Island.

  The island has been isolated from mainland landmasses for 18 million years, and the prolonged geographical isolation has generated many endemic species of plants and animals that exist only on this island.

  Of the 825 plant species found on Socotra, 37% are endemic.

  90% of reptiles and 95% of snails are also endemic to the island.

  Due to its many rare species, it is considered as - The Galapagos of the Indian Ocean.

  Socotra Island is egg-shaped, consisting of 4 small islands and 2 rocky islets, located at the junction of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, at the southeastern end of the Gulf of Aden, which is an important sea route from the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and East Africa, forming a maritime lifeline connecting Asia, Africa and Europe, with extremely important strategic position.

  The island is 135 kilometers long from east to west and 42 kilometers wide from south to north, with a coastline of over 300 kilometers and a total area of 3,650 square kilometers.

  From the second half of 1958 to early 1959, under the protection of the South Vietnamese Navy, the government of South Vietnam built four three-story reinforced concrete buildings on this island.

  In due course, the South Huá Federation effectively controlled the island and made it a permanent stronghold of the South Huá Federation in this region.

  This island in the Arabian Sea is 290 km from the Arabian Peninsula, 241 km from Cape Guardafui in Africa, 250 km from Somalia and 340 km from Yemen.

  Socotra Island is one of the four island groups in the Indian Ocean, with unique and superior natural conditions, and is an important sea transportation hub connecting East and West.

  The reason given by the South Huafederation is - a place to provide supplies and shelter from the wind for the South Huafederation's deep-sea fishing fleet.

  It can be seen that the diplomatic approach of the Nanhua Federation is low-key, allowing the other party to have a step down, while the military is very tough, and a large fleet makes all parties cautious.

  Under the carrot-and-stick approach of the Southern Huaxia Federal Government, all parties can only wipe away their tears.

  Socotra Island is particularly suitable for the construction of air bases and ports, once these facilities are established, the South Arabian Federation can use them to control the entire Arabian Sea and Red Sea.

  The newly constructed airfield will extend the range of South Huafederation Air Force fighter and fighter-bomber aircraft.

  Additionally, US satellite imagery shows that the South Hwanghae provincial military has built a new tower with a domed roof on an unknown small island next to it, possibly for radar or communication facilities.

  At this time, the South Huafederation fulfilled its promise to Socrates Island and nearby islands. On some of the smaller islands in the archipelago, communities that could accommodate 300 people were built, and farms, medical centers, and power plants were established. The next step is to improve communication facilities here, allowing residents to use telegrams and phones.

  On Socotra Island, for residents engaged in fishing and pearl diving, a strategy of free ship repair is provided.

  Inland nomads raised cattle and other livestock, planted crops with measures to provide all products for sale, and provided free seeds and breeding.

  Spices of economic crops in agricultural products, dragon's blood (a red tree resin used as a coating), butter, frankincense, myrrh, Arabic gum, dates, cotton and tobacco are purchased at 120% of the market price.

  These measures were warmly welcomed by the island's residents.