Following United States Vice President Mike Pence’s warning against China’s offer of loans to poorer countries, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the Philippines is “very careful” on the matter, The PhilStar reports. China Presiden Xi Jinping and US Vice President Mike Pence traded barbs in their speeches at the  APEC Summit. Pence warned smaller countries not to be seduced by China’s massive “belt and road” infrastructure program, which sees Beijing offer money to poorer countries for construction and development projects. Meanwhile, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte hinted that two years after he announced a divorce with old ally the United States in return for bumper business ties with China, he still doesn’t have much to show for it.