Unraveling the Controversy: Taiwan's Gold Apollo Links to Beirut Blasts Through Budapest-Based Manufacturer

In a startling revelation, Taiwanese pager manufacturer Gold Apollo has claimed that the pagers used in the recent deadly detonations in Lebanon were produced by Budapest-based BAC Consulting. In an official statement released on September 18, Gold Apollo clarified that while BAC has licensed the Gold Apollo brand for its products, the firm itself was not involved in the manufacturing process.

The tragic events unfolded on Tuesday, leaving at least nine dead and nearly 3,000 others injured as devices used by members of Hezbollah detonated simultaneously throughout Lebanon. Disturbingly, intelligence from a senior Lebanese security source suggests that the explosives in these devices may have been implanted by Israel's Mossad.

Images captured of the destroyed pagers and analyzed by Reuters indicated that they bore design specifications and labels consistent with Gold Apollo's product line. However, Gold Apollo's founder, Hsu Ching-kuang, vigorously maintained that their involvement was limited to branding, stating, "The product was not ours. It was only that it had our brand on it."

The specific model implicated in the incidents is the AR-924, with all aspects of its production and sale attributed to BAC. Hsu went on to explain that Gold Apollo had permitted BAC to utilize its trademark in certain regions, but insisted the entirety of design and production responsibility lay with the Hungarian company.

Despite attempts by Reuters to reach BAC for comment, the company did not respond to inquiries. In an unexpected twist, Hsu hinted at issues with financial transactions related to BAC, stating, "The remittance was very strange,” and noted that payments had apparently originated from the Middle East, although no further details were provided.

Sources familiar with Hezbollah's operations noted that fighters began using these pagers in a bid to escape being tracked by Israeli forces. Given the recent fallout, Hsu expressed uncertainty regarding how the pagers were potentially rigged to detonate.

As investigations into the Lebanon blasts continue, this incident raises critical questions about the accountability of manufacturers in the arms trade and the potential implications of licensing practices in the volatile landscape of international security. Stay tuned for updates on this unfolding story as more details emerge.