You can't compare Pooh to Xi or you'll go to jail. You can do this in the US.

You can buy Pooh merchandise in just about every mall in China. My son has a Pooh sweatshirt we bought at Uniqlo in China.

You just can’t use it as a coded way to agitate against the government.

> Chinese social media is pretty vibrant with the exception that you can’t agitate for the fall of the government.

Just because one criticizes or expresses anger at the central government does not mean that they want to induce mobs that will topple it like in Ukraine. I sincerely doubt China's future history books will talk about the Pooh Bear mobs that brought down Xi's government. More likely to complain about housing or jobs.

That is fair.