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ASEAN

Association of South East Asian Nations

by Željko Heimer

A dark blue flag with a white bordered red disk containing yellow stylized bundle of ten rice stalks.
Željko Heimer, 13 December 2003

Description
The ASEAN Organization
Old Flag

See also:

ASEAN Secretary General - for detailed information about ASEAN's sumbols
International Organizations

Description

According to (unfortunately undated) official details, the symbolism of the flag reads as follows:

"The new ASEAN flag represents a stable, peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN. The colours of the flag - blue, red, white and yellow - represent the main colours of the flags of all the ASEAN countries. The blue represents peace and stability. Red depicts courage and dynamism. White shows purity and yellow symbolizes prosperity. The tens stalks of padi represent the dream of ASEAN'S Founding Fathers for an ASEAN comprising all the ten countries in Southeast Asia bound together in friendship and solidarity. The circle represents the unity of ASEAN."
Christopher Southworth, 11 January 2004

According to Pavillons nationaux et marques distinctives, the flag has proportion 2:3, the diameter of the disc is ca. 1/2th of the flag length, and the blue shade is dark.

Official colour specifications (for paper printing) are:
Blue: Pantone 286c - C100/M60/Y0/K5
Red: Pantone 032c - C0/M90/Y90/K0
Yellow: Pantone Process yellow - C0/M0/Y100/K0
Ivan Sache, 7 January 2001

According to (unfortunately undated) official details, for textiles, the colours should be:
Blue: Pantone 19-4053 TC
Red: Pantone 18-1655 TC
White: Pantone 11-4202 TC
Yellow: 13-0758 TC.

The ratio is given as 2:3, and "the size specifications for official flags" are: Table Flag 10 cm x 15 cm, Room Flag 100 cm x 150 cm, Car Flag 10 cm x 30 cm and
Field Flag 200 cm x 300 cm.
Christopher Southworth, 11 January 2004

The white disk is 0.6 of the hoist, and the height of the yellow emblem is a half of that distance. The width of the white fimbriation is, according to Chris Southwort, 1/80 of the hoist.
Željko Heimer, 17 January 2004

The ASEAN Organization

ASEAN is the Association of South East Asian Nations and was formed on 8 August 1967, with 5 members, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand. Brunei became the 6th in 1984 and Vietnam the 7th member in 1995. On May 31, 1997 at the ASEAN foreign minsters meeting, it was decided to admit Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar in a few months' time. To represent the 10 nations, a new flag was unveiled which had in the center a stylized device featuring 10 rice stalks. I haven't seen the flag in color but the background is AFAIK light blue. ASEAN has its seat in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The old logo had 6 rice stalks.

Tom Koh, 4 July 1997

A Reuters news report announced that ASEAN will keep the flag with 10 rice stalks despite not taking in Cambodia due to its internal war. ASEAN Secretary-General Ajit Singh stated "It will still be the 10 stalks of paddy, and the reason we have maintained it is because this is the vision of all the ASEAN 10."

The flag is described as "The new flag unveiled late in May comprises a blue background with a centered red circle enclosing 10 yellow stalks of rice paddy. A thin white ring encircles the red ring." Reuters quoted ASEAN's explanation of the symbolism: ``The 10 stalks of paddy represent the dream of ASEAN's founding fathers for an ASEAN comprising all the 10 countries in southeast Asia bound together in friendship and solidarity.''

Jan Oskar Engene, 18 July 1997

Old Flag

by Željko Heimer, 13 December 2003

ASEAN had a flag before the blue-background one adopted in 1997. The background of the old flag is white, the logo is somewhat in brown and yellow
Sammy Kanadi, 18 January 2001

The old logo had a design that represented a bundle of rice stalks, coloured brown, with the word 'asean' at the bottom. These elements were imposed on a yellow base within a blue circle. The logo symbolized the solidarity of ASEAN and its commitment to work together for the aspiration and prosperity of its people. It also portrays ASEAN's adherence to the concept of regional peace and stability within the global context.
by Tom Koh, 4 July 1997

by Željko Heimer, 15 December 2003

The Corr. 27 of the 1995 Album shows the light blue flag with the six stalks emblem, but without the inscription.
Željko Heimer, 15 December 2003