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American leader visits overseas have typically been an occasion to display the power of the United States on the international platform. Trump's week-long swing through East Asia, conversely, has been a display of the authority of the president – but also, at times, of that power's boundaries.

Trump's stops in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the span of the initial days were an demonstration in satisfying a sometimes mercurial president. It was an admission that the president, with the signature of a document, could introduce tariffs and additional actions that have the capacity to damage the financial systems of export-dependent nations.

His discussion with Beijing's head Xi Jinping on the final day, nevertheless, was a distinct situation.

It was a session of equals on the international scene, where the consequences for the two powers – for their economies, for their world reputation, for the welfare of their citizens – were immense.

With Beijing, the president may wave his power, but those steps involve ramifications. They come with a price.

• The US president describes 'impressive' encounter with Xi but no pact agreed
• Xi and the US leader find temporary truce as China pursues extended strategy

For the first four days, Trump's most recent entry into world politics was uneventful.

Each destination was marked by a mix of standard trade negotiations – agreements made under the shadow of the president's "equivalent" duties – and individual concessions that at moments verged on the obsequious.

In the Malaysian stop, Trump gained access to critical minerals and made progress toward concluding trade arrangements with regional partners. He also oversaw a pact that should alleviate border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "truce" the president prefers to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's Marine One flew past a famous structure illuminated US flag colors – with a peak in gilded.

Recently chosen Head the Japanese leader detailed $550 billion in Japan's financial commitments in the America and gave the American president a present of a quarter-thousand flowering trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf equipment and case that was owned by Shinzo Abe, the assassinated former prime minister who connected with the president in his first term.

She also became the newest international head to nominate the president for his highly-coveted Nobel Peace Prize.

Not to be outdone, Korea greeted the president with guns firing a traditional greeting and a armed forces orchestra that performed Hail to the Chief and the Village People song – the Village People song that has become a presidential event standard.

Leader Lee Jae Myung held an "recognition ritual" for the US leader during which he presented the president his country's top honor and a replica of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Noon repast with the Korean leader included a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gold-encrusted baked goods. Later that day, the Koreans served the president vineyard wine at an private meal in Trump's honour with multiple world leaders present at the APEC conference.

In the US, Trump may be the target of "Anti-Monarchy" protests by US citizens who reject his boundary-testing extensions of leader's control, but during his regional swing he was received as royalty.

And like the kings of history, the president arrived in South Korea demanding tribute – in the shape of $200 billion in cash payments, $20 billion a per year, from South Korea to the United States, to be used at the discretion of Trump's leadership. Approval on the conditions of those transfers helped ensure that the tariff rate on host nation goods to the United States would decrease from twenty-five percent to fifteen percent.

The central moment of the president's Asian tour took place in its final hours, though, as he met with the Chinese leader.

There, the power dynamic between counterparts of the planet's biggest economic powers was decidedly different than the meetings Trump had with his foreign counterparts in previous days.

Missing were typical pomp and the pageantry. No military bands, absent honour guards, without carefully crafted dining selections celebrating bilateral friendship. By contrast, the both heads and their senior advisors sat across a extended light-colored meeting furniture in a plain service structure just off the runway of Busan's international airport.

It was possibly a indication of the high stakes that when Trump exchanged greetings with Xi in the Korean city, he looked