BEIJING -- The move by a top Taiwanese pool player, Wu Chia-ching, to give up his "citizenship" in order to represent China "only concerns the development of his personal career," said a mainland spokesman on Wednesday.

"The outside world should not misunderstand it or associate it with unnecessary issues," said Yang Yi, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.

Wu, 22, a world champion in 2005, recently announced that he will represent the Chinese mainland in a pool tournament later this month.