1980 Petroleum News Map of Oil in the South China Sea, Southeast Asia, and the Philippines

A fascinating 1980 infographic Petroleum News map of the South China Sea, Southeast Asia, and the East Indies, illustrating the region's rich oil and gas deposits - currently an international flashpoint between China and other regional powers, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

A Closer Look

Centered on the South China Sea, coverage embraces Southeast Asia and the East Indies, extending from the Andaman Islands to the Philippines and from Hainan to Timor. Both sea (light blue) and land (brown) concession areas are noted, often with the concession holder named, and the sites of active and abandoned wells, pipelines, refineries, and more are identified. The map additionally notes petrol infrastructure that is proposed or under construction.

South China Sea Dispute

The South China Sea territorial disputes involve overlapping sovereign claims on resource-rich islands, reefs, and maritime territories. China asserts a sweeping claim over most of the Sea through its Nine-Dash Line, which conflicts with claims by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The disputes center around the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, and Scarborough Shoal, which are significant as fisheries, hold potential oil and gas reserves, and maintain strategic military positioning. To assert its claim, China has embarked on a program of island-building and militarization of reefs, as well as maritime confrontations with neighboring countries. The South China Sea remains a flashpoint for regional security, with the United States conducting freedom-of-navigation naval operations. Diplomacy through ASEAN-led negotiations has sought to establish a code of conduct, though a lasting resolution remains elusive.

Publication History and Census

This map was printed in 1980 in Singapore for Petroleum News, a trade publication for the oil industry. The map is rare, and we note no other examples of this edition. We note a 1979 edition, likely the earliest, in the Singapore National Archives and 1982 editions at the Library of Congress, Stanford, and the ISEAS Library.