A senior career diplomat at the US embassy in China has stepped down following reports that he disagrees with US President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement on climate change.
A spokesperson has confirmed that Deputy Chief of Mission David Rank has stepped down but was unable to confirm whether it was due to the decision made by President Trump last week.
“He has retired from the foreign service. Mr Rank has made a personal decision. We appreciate his years of dedicated service to the state department.” ,” said Anna Richey-Allen, a spokeswoman for the department’s East Asia bureau.
China expert John Pomfret released a tweet quoting sources saying Rank’s decision to step down. Pomfret sent another tweet saying that Rank has called a meeting to explain his decision.
Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord, saying the agreement would undermine the US economy and cost jobs, led to anger and condemnation from leaders around the world.
Shortly after Trump’s decision, the leaders of Germany, France and Italy released a joint statement.
“We deem the momentum generated in Paris in December 2015 irreversible, and we firmly believe that the Paris agreement cannot be renegotiated since it is a vital instrument for our planet, societies and economies,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni and French president Emmanuel Macron.
Macron also took to the television to express his disappointment in the US President, telling viewers that Trump had “committed an error for the interests of his country, his people and a mistake for the future of our planet”.
“I tell you firmly tonight: we will not renegotiate a less ambitious accord. There is no way. Don’t be mistaken on climate: there is no plan B because there is no planet B.” he said.