The top US diplomat in China, David Rank, has resigned in protest of President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate change accord, according to three people familiar with the matter. The past weekend was Rank’s final one as charge d’affaires at the embassy in Beijing, the top job until former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad arrives to take the post of ambassador. In a farewell speech to colleagues, Rank cited Trump’s decision last week to leave the Paris accord as the reason, sources told Bloomberg. The State Department confirmed that Rank had left his post but wouldn’t say why. Rank’s move reflects a disappointment with the Trump administration’s decision shared by many foreign service officers. It may further suspicion at the White House that many career diplomats oppose Trump’s agenda or are working to subvert it.
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