In the desolate and inhospitable Himalayas, China is constructing and expanding hundreds of “xiaokang” (小康) villages along its hotly disputed border with India.1 These villages, often accompanied by military and dual-use infrastructure, are an important “gray zone” tool enabling China to assert and defend its claims near disputed areas. Commercial satellite images provide a glimpse into China’s activities and show that China is making rapid and significant progress on these border villages despite the harsh environment.