Frankly many Chinese (including myself) perceive India deliberately over-hypes China's 'rise' or 'threat' in order to increase its own weight or value in eyes of the US (or the West bloc as a whole) as a 'counter-balance' in the region. Similarly Pakistan needs Taliban in Afg. to keep the US injecting aids into Pak. Isn't it logical?
We are Talking about the domestic Indian scene.
On a worldwide scale the World wants us to be a counter to brutal undemocratic China, we are not interested in being a counter but in our own development and "peaceful rise".
Competitor is a more proper word than 'rival'.
Competition and partnership characterize most relationships in this area, Sino-Japan, Sino-S Korea, and even Sino-Russia
May be you didn't read my post. I am talking through the prism of security and defence. They are no competitors when it comes to defence, just allies, rivals and inconsequentials.
