Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 7-Feb-23

It is believed that Australian officials have voiced their concerns with their Chinese counterparts about the spy balloon that flew over the US and was subsequently shot down by a US fighter jet. Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the incident will not get in the way of Australia’s efforts to improve its relationship with China, while former Royal Australian Air Force chief Leo Davies says he is not aware that a Chinese balloon has ever entered Australian air space. Should one appear, he says any decision to shoot it down would depend on where it had been and where it was tracking. However, University of Melbourne atmospheric chemist Robyn Schofield says a balloon launched by China in China could not reach Australia, due to the wind currents, which either blow east-to-west or west-to-east.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE