Malaysia's Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohamed Azmin Ali (C) chairs a virtual meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 25, 2020. (File photo: Xinhua)

China’s foreign ministry reiterated the “one-China” principle as Taiwan authorities said they’re preparing the appearance of the island’s leader Tsai In-wen at a virtual meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in December.

Taiwan joined the 21-member APEC in 1991 under the name Chinese Taipei.

No matter how this year’s APEC leaders summit is conducted, Chinese Taipei must take part in the organization’s agenda as an economy and follow the “one-China” principle, said Chinese spokesman Wang Wenzheng on Friday, adding that any attempt to shatter this rule will go nowhere.

Malaysia, the host country of this year’s APEC meetings, decided to hold the meeting on virtual platforms amid the coronavirus pandemic.