Freedoms can't defend themselves, because they're abstract and subjective. Human beings decide what freedoms other human beings have, collectively and by various means with varying efficacy, such as use of force, tacit agreement, etc.

People in China are certainly free to speak whatever they like. But if they say the wrong thing their genocidal dictatorship will stomp on them hard. Here in America we have means to defend free speech through the use of force, e.g., the courts, and a generally accepted social contract that some (many? I hope) are loath to break: and that freedom doesn't mean other individuals can't or won't react negatively (cf: Musk and Twitter).