India-Russia tri-services drill aimed at reinforcing rivalry mentality, says China daily

China's influential right-leaning Global Times newspaper said today the upcoming tri-services military exercise between India and Russia is aimed at boosting "regional influence".

"Since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power, India has taken a hard-line diplomatic approach toward China and regards China as a strategic rival," the newspaper in its op-ed piece said.

The daily said the military drill was being conducted as India wanted to "reinforce its rivalry mentality" in "pursuit of regional clout".

"India can join hands with Russia to counterbalance China. Russia may have no plans to target China, but India is calculating on using Russia to hold China at bay," it said.

The newspaper said the exercise with Russia also increases India's military presence in northeast Asia, adding that in the future, India may have a place in northeast Asian affairs, such as the North Korean nuclear crisis.

"Among all of India's calculations, countering China is obviously an unwise one. Russia faces enormous strategic pressure from the US, and India faces tough development tasks," the newspaper said. 

"If Russia, India and China indulge in a contest for regional influence in Asia, that is playing into the hands of the US," the newspaper added.

"Under the existing international pattern, it is impossible for India to enhance its influence without cooperating with China," the newspaper concluded.