Australia plans to lease and share existing nuclear-powered submarines years before acquisition, narrowing a risk the American or British subs arrive too late to counter China’s rapid military expansion in the Indo-Pacific.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who heads to the US on Monday, tried to take the heat out of France’s condemnation and the recalling of their ambassadors in retaliation for the $90 billion submarine contract cancellation, saying on Sunday that he understood the “deep disappointment” but he had to protect Australia’s sovereign interest.