China has conducted massive aerial drills over the South China Sea at a moment of all-time high tensions with the United States. 

Described as air combat readiness exercises, regional media details that three of China's five main military regions are active as part of the drills. It comes on the heels of even larger exercises off the Leizhou Peninsula in southern China which wrapped up days ago.

"Our aim is not to push the limit or break a record. All our exercises are aimed at [preparing for] actual combat," a state media video said of the drills, which lasted over ten hours.