What does the white disk on Palau’s national flag represent?

The white disk on Palau’s national flag represents the moon.

The moon is slightly shifted toward the hoist side of the light-blue field. Palau’s official symbolism associates the blue background with the Pacific Ocean and the nation’s surrounding waters, while the full moon represents the best time for traditional activities and communal life.

The flag was adopted on January 1, 1981, when Palau became self-governing under its Compact of Free Association arrangements. Its design was created by Blau J. Skebong and was chosen through a public competition.

People sometimes mistake the disk for a sun because it is large and pale. Its color and position are intentional: the flag depicts a full moon rather than a solar emblem. The design also differs from Japan’s flag, whose red disk represents the sun.