Forward policy, in the context of Sino-Indian border conflict, was a term coined by the Indian Army to refer to an Indian government directive instructing it to establish "forward" posts (advance posts) to reclaim territory occupied by China. Much before India's decision, China had been carrying out its own version of forward policy by militarising its perceived border and by attacking and apprehending any Indian patrols that ventured into it. Later, China cited India's forward policy as the "causus belli" that initiated the 1962 Sino-Indian War.