The US Embassy in China has confirmed the resignation of its Charge d'affaires Beijing, David Rank, amid media reports that he quit over the U.S's recent decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement.
Global Times quoted a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China as saying that "Mr. Rank made a personal decision (to leave). We appreciate his years of dedicated service to the State Department."
Although the spokesperson did not give any explanation for Rank's departure, a CNN report on Tuesday cited inside sources as saying that the move was directly related to US President Donald Trump's decision to quit the Paris climate agreement last week.
Rank was acting as U.S. ambassador to China until the arrival of Trump's pick for the job, former Iowa governor Terry Branstad, who was confirmed by the US Congress last month.
Rank assumed the position of Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy Beijing in January 2016.
Last week, Trump withdrew the United States from the landmark 2015 global agreement to fight climate change, drawing anger and condemnation from world leaders and heads of industry.
He said the Paris accord would undermine the U.S. economy, cost U.S. jobs, weaken American national sovereignty and put the country at a permanent disadvantage to the other countries of the world.
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