Yup, 1.4 billion population is a double edged sword. Lots of moving parts just to keep this juggernaut of people from crashing into civil disobedience. I believe the biggest threat to the CCP lies within, not from outside!
Better to have a manageable population like Australia... and even the USA. God only knows whats to become of China and India in a few generations time. I dont think it will be pretty!