After a decade of "Taiwan, Touch Your Heart," the Taiwan Tourism Bureau unveiled its new logo, slogan ("Taiwan — The Heart of Asia") and brand campaign, starting with the 30-second spot above.Continue reading...

It was only a matter of time before the Starbucks 31 oz. Trenta announcement got the crazy animation reatment. This made-for-viral mock news clip, from the Apple Daily-owned NMA.tv, proves that Taiwan's new biggest export is spoof animation of Western news events. Anyway, the zombies are a nice touch. 

Earlier: Starbucks 'Trenta' Smaller Than Starbucks 'Venti,' Dunkin' Donuts 'Large'

Here's a branding challenge: Imagine and develop a brand tagline and logo to celebrate a nation's history and future and communicate that nation's qualities; except, this logo and tagline cannot actually suggest that you are a nation. That's the seemingly impossible challenge faced by the ROC (Taiwan) Centenary Foundation for the 100th anniversary celebration in 2012.

Next year the Republic of China, better known as Taiwan, will celebrate its 100th anniversary. However, already the original proposed tagline for the event has dropped the term "Nation Building," citing it as "too sensitive." "Nation building" has been replaced with the less offensive (i.e., less meaningful) term "splendid." Continue reading...

"Made in Taiwan." Those three words represent everything from America's decline as a manufacturing powerhouse, to Asia's economic rise, to the explosion of cheap consumer culture, to China's new pride seen in "Made by Chinese" movements, to China and Taiwan's long-running war, now fought via "Made in..." proxy.

So just what does "Made in Taiwan" mean today?

Manufacturing for export took Taiwan from one of the world's poorest places to one of the wealthiest. But now Taiwan has been identified as one economy that is suffering most from the global recession. The nation's exports, accounting for around 70 percent of the economy, fell 41% last December and 44% the month after that.

One irony is the circle of manufacturing life. Taiwan is losing its work to cheaper, less regulated in the region. Hakuna Mattata, Taiwan.

Another irony is that much of what Taiwan makes is finished in China resulting in a "Made in China" tag. Not that the "Made in China" brand hasn't taken a severe beating in the last few years. But this new relationship might also be helping normalize relations between the long-opposed "Made in..." nations.Continue reading...

Royal Bank of Scotland may be forced to sell 300 branches. [Times of London]

Ford recalls 14.3 million vehicles over faulty switches. [WaPo]

Pepsi, Anheuser-Busch form purchasing association for goods and services. [NY Times]

PepsiCo's Amp Energy drink draws anger over "pick-up artist" iPhone app. [WSJ]

Soda tax to fund health care and fight obesity could shake up beverage industry. [NPR]

P&G to focus on value-based items, emerging markets to ensure growth. [NY Times]

Kellogg's will laser-brand individual flakes Corn Flakes. [Telegraph]

(More headlines: Ivanka Trump, Michelin in Japan.)Continue reading...