OPPONENTS of America's missile defence programme claim a document from U.S. officials confirms that it is sparking a new arms race.

Two military bases in North Yorkshire - Fylingdales on the North York Moors and Menwith Hill, near Harrogate - are set to play a major part in the defence programme, known as Son Of Star Wars.

Now the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) says a recent report from the U.S. Defence Department states that China is planning to increase its nuclear arsenal to maintain its credibility as a nuclear force, as a response to missile defence.

CND says further evidence can be found in a recent statement from China and Russia expressing concerns over the development of U.S. space weapons, which is part of the defence system.

Neil Kingsworth, from CND in Yorkshire, said: "We've said all along that the two main threats of missile defence to the international community are firstly the threat of weapons proliferation - especially by China - in an attempt to overcome the system, and secondly the placing of weaponry in space, which could lead to an arms race both in space and on Earth.

"These statements are the first evidence of just such threats becoming reality."

Annie Rainbow, joint co-ordinator of the campaign for the accountability of American bases, said: "The American missile defence system is for the protection of America only, so that is one reason why other countries get upset and concerned about it.

"They feel threatened and believe it could be used in an attack.

"We should seriously and quickly look to ways we can come down from this ghastly ladder that we are heading up."

Updated: 11:28 Monday, August 11, 2003