Consensus is kinda important for alliances though. I think a more important thing for both the EU and NATO would have been to make decisions based on how those nations were, rather than what they might be after joining.

There would probably be a back channel communication and promise that the US woukd never station or deploy over the 48th parallel, the current border between North and South Korea. China wouldn't like that the new united Korea would be a powerhouse but united Korea is less likely to be pro-America as much so its a wash.

With the congress over, Chinese officials might start buying foreign vaccines to use if locals would use them. No one wants to be the one who admits that the domestic vaccines are useless, against the Party line, and buy from the "enemy" before the Party Congress where folks get promoted or kicked out.