VETERANS VIRUS OUTBREAK FACES Benefits for K2 Cold can’t dampen Johnson signals exposure part joy as lockdowns willingness to of toxins bill begin to ease in UK ‘Rock’ the vote Page 4 Page 7 Page 14 Japan PM celebrates Matsuyama’s historic Masters victory ›› Golf, Page 23 stripes.com Volume 79 Edition 255 ©SS 2021 TUESDAY,APRIL 13, 2021 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas SEXUAL ASSAULTS Lawmakers, DOD at odds over assault prosecutions BY MISSY RYAN The Washington Post WASHINGTON — When sen- ators summoned Pentagon lead- ers to answer for a rash of sexual assaults in the military in 2013, the assembled brass were undivided in their resistance to plans that would strip commanders of their power over prosecuting those crimes, warning the changes would undermine discipline in the ranks. Eight years later, opposition from top military officials — even as they pledge “zero tolerance” for a problem that has defied dec- ades of attempted reforms — re- mains unchanged. What has changed is the politics surrounding the issue with new signals from the White House, an increased focus on the military’s lack of high-level diversity and ETHAN MORROW/U.S. Navy shifting societal views on sexual The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt transits the South China Sea. South China Sea issues related to recent moves by China were assault in the wake of the #MeToo among issues discussed by the U.S. and Philippine defense secretaries Sunday, the day before the start of Balikatan military drills. movement. It’s unclear whether proposals that would give specialized mili- tary prosecutors, rather than unit commanders, the power to decide which alleged sexual assaults are Training through tensions subject to military trial will mus- ter enough votes to pass in Con- gress. Among the measures being considered is one first introduced US, Philippines restart Balikatan military drills following in 2013 by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., that the senator and co- pandemic-induced pause, with eye on South China Sea sponsors hope to reintroduce this BY SETH ROBSON The allies canceled last year’s exercise after month. Stars and Stripes both countries imposed restrictions on inter- Support for more systemic Nearly 1,000 U.S. and Philippine troops be- national travel as the coronavirus spread change appears to be growing as gan a two-week exercise in the Southeast Asian across the world. lawmakers express impatience nation Monday as tension continue to boil be- Though this year’s drills will be toned down with the military’s inability to tween Manila and Beijing in the nearby South because of the pandemic, that won’t “diminish curb an epidemic of sexual ha- China Sea. nor hamper the real intent of the Balikatan Ex- rassment and assault. And as mo- The annual Balikatan drills, which run ercises — that is to foster a stronger and more mentum builds for change, Penta- through April 23, involve 736 Philippines robust military relationship,” Philippine mili- ELIZABETH JOHNSON/U.S. Marine Corps gon leaders are quietly facing a troops and 225 U.S. service members, the U.S. tary chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said in the A U.S. Marine pins the corporal rank on a Embassy in Manila said in a statement coinci- Philippine Marine during the annual Balikatan SEE ODDS ON PAGE 6 ding with the start of the training. SEE TENSIONS ON PAGE 3 exercise on April 4, 2019. PAGE 2 • STARS AND STRIPES • Tuesday, April 13, 2021 BUSINESS/WEATHER Fed sees US boom ahead amid virus EXCHANGE RATES Military rates South Korea (Won) 1125.49 Associated Press from sharp increases in govern- from 6.2%. Switzerland (Franc) .9239 Euro costs (April 13) $1.16 Thailand (Baht) 31.52 WASHINGTON — The U.S. ment spending and expanding “We would like to see a string of Dollar buys (April 13) 0.8181 Turkey (NewLira) 8.1442 British pound (April 13) $1.34 economy is poised for an extended budget deficits. months like that,” he said. “That is Japanese yen (April 13) 107.00 (Military exchange rates are those available period of strong growth and hir- “We feel like we’re at a place certainly in the range of possibil- South Korean won (April 13) 1095.00 to customers at military banking facilities in the Commercial rates country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Ger­ ing, the chair of the Federal Re- where the economy’s about to ity.” many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bahrain(Dinar) .3767 For nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., pur­ serve said in an interview broad- start growing much more quickly Still, there are about 8.4 million Britain (Pound) 1.3749 chasing British pounds in Germany), check with Canada (Dollar) 1.2552 your local military banking facility. Commercial cast Sunday, though the coronavi- and job creation coming in much fewer jobs than before the pan- China(Yuan) 6.5473 rates are interbank rates provided for reference Denmark (Krone) 6.2472 rus still poses some risk. more quickly,” Powell said. “This demic, and Powell acknowledged Egypt (Pound) 15.6901 when buying currency. All figures are foreign Chair Jerome Powell, speaking growth that we’re expecting in the that he regularly sees a homeless Euro .8399 currencies to one dollar, except for the British Hong Kong (Dollar) 7.7750 pound, which is represented in dollars­to­ to CBS’ “60 Minutes,” also said second half of this year is encampment. Hungary (Forint) 299.58 pound, and the euro, which is dollars­to­euro.) Israel (Shekel) 3.2961 that he doesn’t expect to raise the Powell noted that roughly a mil- Powell also said the primary Japan (Yen) 109.44 INTEREST RATES Fed’s benchmark interest rate, lion jobs were added in March, risk to the economy remains the Kuwait(Dinar) .3018 Norway (Krone) 8.4822 Prime rate 3.25 currently pegged at nearly zero, when revisions to jobs data in Ja- pandemic and a breakdown in Philippines (Peso) 48.63 Interest Rates Discount rate 0.75 Poland (Zloty) 3.81 Federal funds market rate 0.07 this year. And he downplayed the nuary and February are included. precautions that Americans have Saudi Arabia (Riyal) 3.7500 3­month bill 0.02 risk of higher inflation stemming The unemployment rate fell to 6% largely taken for the past year. Singapore (Dollar) 1.3412 30­year bond 2.34 WEATHER OUTLOOK TUESDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST TUESDAY IN EUROPE WEDNESDAY IN THE PACIFIC Misawa 55/39 Kabul Seoul 66/52 57/37 Baghdad 67/45 Drawsko Osan Tokyo Kandahar 55/37 70/43 Mildenhall/ Pomorskie Busan 93/62 Lakenheath 43/32 52/36 63/41 Iwakuni Kuwait City 66/48 Bahrain Brussels Zagan Sasebo Guam 84/71 74/64 Ramstein 49/33 63/52 50/30 48/28 86/78 Riyadh Lajes, Stuttgart 99/71 Doha Azores Pápa 65/58 68/37 96/77 Aviano/ 43/36 Vicenza 53/34 Naples 63/52 Okinawa Morón 72/66 74/54 Sigonella Rota 71/45 The weather is provided by the Djibouti 72/60 Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 88/80 66/53 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. TODAY IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 11 Comics .........................16 Crossword ................... 16 Faces .......................... 14 Opinion ........................ 15 Sports .................... 18-24 Tuesday, April 13, 2021 • STARS AND STRIPES • PAGE 3 MILITARY Japan’s emperor honors INDOPACOM chief BY SETH ROBSON told Kishi. “There has never been Stars and Stripes more motivation for Japan and the TOKYO — Japanese Emperor U.S. to work closely.” Naruhito has awarded one of his Yamazaki, at the earlier meet- country’s highest honors to the ing had noted North Korean ballis- leader of U.S. Indo-Pacific Com- tic missile tests and illicit cargo mand for contributions to the U.S.- transfers aimed at busting United Japanese alliance. Nations sanctions imposed due to The Grand Cordon of the Order the communist state’s nuclear of the Rising Sun was presented to weapons program. He also point- Adm. Phil Davidson by Japanese ed out “invigorated” Chinese mil- Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi itary activity around Japan, in- during a short ceremony Monday cluding in the disputed Senkaku at the Ministry of Defense in To- Islands in the East China Sea. kyo. Bilateral cooperation between The award, established in 1875 Japan and the U.S. has deepened by the Emperor Meiji, is Japan’s rapidly amid an “increasingly se- third-highest honor and recogniz- vere” security situation in the re- es achievements in various fields, gion in recent years, Kishi told Da- including international relations, vidson. promotion of Japanese culture, so- “I firmly believe the U.S.-Japan cial welfare and environmental- alliance is the cornerstone of ism. Past American recipients in- peace and stability here in the Pa- clude former Navy officer and SETH ROBSON/Stars and Stripes cific,” Davidson responded. “The diplomat Harry Harris, who led The head of U.S. Indo­Pacific Command, Adm. Philip Davidson, left, receives the Grand Cordon of the alliance must stand ready to con- INDOPACOM immediately be- Order of the Rising Sun, Japan's third­highest honor, at the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo, on Monday. front all emerging threats to peace fore Davidson, House Speaker and stability and protect an inter- Nancy Pelosi and former Defense nese Joint Staff Chief Gen. Koji ing rays from the rising sun. After the ceremony, Davidson national order based on the rule of Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Yamazaki, were on hand for the Earlier, Davidson reviewed Ja- sat down for talks with Kishi and law. Top military leaders, including award presentation that saw Da- panese troops and met with Yama- other U.S.