Gold Apollo Distances Itself from Deadly Blasts, Claims Pagers Were Made Under License by BAC Consulting.
Following Tuesday’s lethal explosions in Lebanon, which killed at least 12 people and wounded around 3,000, Taiwanese electronics maker Gold Apollo finds itself in the focus of a worldwide debate. Targeting members of the militant group Hezbollah, the bombs have set off a Middle Eastern geopolitical crisis. Hsu Ching-Kuang, the creator of Gold Apollo, vehemently denied participation, claiming that the company only licensed its trademark to BAC Consulting. This Hungarian company subsequently utilized the brand name for its operations.
"Did We Make Those Pagers?"
Mr. Hsu stressed in a tense argument outside the Taipei offices of Gold Apollo, “You look at the pictures from Lebanon.” There is no mark on them indicating “Made in Taiwan.” We did not produce those pagers! His comments coincided with reporters swarming the corporate premises, housed in a nondescript business park, under police protection.
Previously unknown to many outside of its specialized market, the firm became well-known after claims appeared about the use of its branded pagers in the attack on Lebanon. Gold Apollo responded very quickly to make clear that it had no direct influence on the design or production of the disputed devices.
What Is the Agreement with BAC Consulting?
Formally, Gold Apollo described its association with the little-known Hungarian company BAC Consulting. “We have no involvement in the design or manufacturing of this product; we merely grant brand trademark authorization,” the statement said. Mr. Hsu went further into the background of the alliance, noting that the contract was inked three years ago. BAC Consulting first tried to buy pagers straight from Gold Apollo for use throughout Europe. After around a year, though, BAC suggested a different plan: producing their pagers under the Gold Apollo name.
Mr. Hsu claimed that the type of financial dealings between the two businesses begged specific questions. He admitted that funds came through the Middle East and said, “The money transfers from BAC have been extraordinary.” “There had been issues with the payments,” he said, not adding any specifics. Attempts to get BAC Consulting to comment have not so far been successful.
Why Are Taiwanese Authorities Investigating?
Though Mr. Hsu assures us, the presence of Taiwanese researchers in Gold Apollo’s offices—seen poring over boxes of records—indicates that authorities are still considering the company’s possible participation. Given the complicated character of Taiwan’s manufacturing industry, this development points to a lack of total faith in the company’s assertions.
Taiwan’s industrial scene is marked by a network of small businesses that usually outsource manufacturing to other factories, usually in China or Southeast Asia. These companies could handle research and development and hold intellectual property, but manufacturing is generally done elsewhere. Years ago, Gold Apollo stopped manufacturing electronic pagers and concentrated on other short-range radio devices.
Is This Technology Still Relevant?
Once a mainstay of communication technology in the 1980s and 1990s, pagers have become a niche product in recent years, primarily utilized in areas like healthcare where dependability and independence from conventional networks are critical. Gold Apollo changed its product range in response to diminishing demand; now, its bestseller is a gadget used in restaurants and food courts. The device, a spherical disk that lights up and vibrates when an order is ready, is a long cry from the pagers now connected to a fatal geopolitical event.
What Is BAC Consulting's Role?
The present circumstances beg serious concerns regarding BAC Consulting. The Hungarian firm and its activities are very little known, and its involvement in the Beirut explosions is still unclear. The crucial point is: who made the pagers if Gold Apollo did not? And where were they made?
The pager manufacturing sector gives great weight to the moniker “Gold Apollo,” which might help to explain BAC Consulting’s interest in utilizing it. The brand’s name might have given the gadgets at the heart of this debate legitimacy even if the technology is no longer widespread.
Are There More Questions Than Answers?
There is still a lot to untangle as inquiries continue—in Taiwan and elsewhere. Given the complexity of contemporary manufacturing and licensing arrangements, Mr. Hsu’s assurance that Gold Apollo is not directly engaged in manufacturing the pagers used in the assaults may be reasonable. Still, many concerns remain about the function of BAC Consulting and the source of the explosive devices.
Apart from the businesses engaged in continuous research, it is also essential for international relations and security. As officials and reporters seek the truth behind this fatal event, BAC Consulting takes the front stage.
