You can't force other countries to behave how you'd like. Some countries don't have freedom of the press. The United States should not be in the business of restricting freedom of the press in order to pressure other countries to respect it.

The goal is for the United States to follow the principles laid down in the Bill of Rights. Throwing those out in order to pressure other countries is a terrible idea.

The way it was done in the past is by being ridiculously stronger than the other participant. So you let your Pakistani or Iraqi counterpart make a big show to appear strong to their people and you do nothing because you still have them under your thumb. Unfortunately, China is now one of America’s peers so it’s necessary to establish the level playing field.