Sweden
blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in
the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors reflect those
of the Swedish coat of arms - three gold crowns on a blue field
Switzerland
red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the
center that does not extend to the edges of the flag; various
medieval legends purport to describe the origin of the flag; a white
cross used as identification for troops of the Swiss Confederation
is first attested at the Battle of Laupen (1339)
Syria
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered
in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation
flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody
struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); identical
to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the
two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; the
current design dates to 1980
note: similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band,
Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band,
and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the
white band
Taiwan
red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays; the blue and
white design of the canton (symbolizing the sun of progress) dates
to 1895; it was later adopted as the flag of the Kuomintang Party;
blue signifies liberty, justice, and democracy; red stands for
fraternity, sacrifice, and nationaliam, white represents equality,
frankness, and the people's livelihood; the 12 rays of the sun are
those of the months and the twelve traditional Chinese hours (each
ray equals two hours)
note: somewhat resembles the flag of Burma
Tajikistan
three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of
white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold,
five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe; red
represents the sun, victory, and the unity of the nation, white
stands for purity, cotton, and mountain snows, while green is the
color of Islam and the bounty of nature; the crown symbolizes the
Tajik people; the seven stars signify the Tajik magic word "seven" -
a symbol of perfection and the embodiment of happiness
Tanzania
divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the
lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green
and the lower triangle is blue; the banner combines colors found on
the flags of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; green represents the natural
vegetation of the country, gold its rich mineral deposits, black the
native Swahili people, and blue the country's many lakes and rivers,
as well as the Indian Ocean
Thailand
five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double
width), white, and red; the red color symbolizes the nation and the
blood of life; white represents religion and the purity of Buddhism;
blue stands for the monarchy
note: similar to the flag of Costa Rica but with the blue and red
colors reversed
Timor-Leste
red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist
side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that
extends to the center of the flag; a white star - pointing to the
upper hoist-side corner of the flag - is in the center of the black
triangle; yellow denotes the colonialism in Timor-Leste's past;
black represents the obscurantism that needs to be overcome; red
stands for the national liberation struggle; the white star
symbolizes peace and serves as a guiding light
Togo
five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom)
alternating with yellow; a white five-pointed star on a red square
is in the upper hoist-side corner; the five horizontal stripes stand
for the five different regions of the country; the red square is
meant to express the loyalty and patriotism of the people; green
symbolizes hope, fertility, and agriculture; yellow represents
mineral wealth and faith that hard work and strength will bring
prosperity; the star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity, and
Togo's independence
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Tokelau
a yellow stylized Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails
toward the manu - the Southern Cross constellation of four, white,
five-pointed stars at the hoist side; the Southern Cross represents
the role of Christianity in Tokelauan culture and symbolizes the
country's navigating into the future, the color yellow indicates
happiness and peace, and the blue field represents the ocean on
which the community relies