First China Ship Crossing of Arctic Ocean

For the first time, a Chinese ship has crossed the Arctic Ocean, sailing from the Chinese coast directly to Europe across waters that were previously frozen and intraversible:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/1st-Chinese-ship-crosses-Arctic-Ocean/articleshow/22503317.cms

India likes to think that in any conflict with China, it could easily block access to the Indian Ocean for Chinese shipping. But the Chinese have been looking to create new routes that bypass the Indian Ocean.