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US presidential trips internationally have historically been an occasion to demonstrate the strength of the United States on the international platform. Donald Trump's five-day trip through East Asia, by contrast, has been a show of the authority of the leader – but also, at moments, of that power's limitations.

The president's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the course of the first four days were an exercise in catering to a occasionally mercurial American president. It was an recognition that the leader, with the stroke of a pen, could introduce tariffs and other measures that have the ability to devastate the markets of export-oriented countries.

His sit-down with China's president Xi on the last day, nevertheless, was a completely different scenario.

It was a meeting of equals on the world platform, where the risks for each country – for their financial health, for their world reputation, for the well-being of their populations – were immense.

With the Chinese, the US leader may use his pen, but such actions entail consequences. They involve a toll.

• Trump hails 'amazing' encounter with Xi but no trade deal reached
• Xi and Trump establish brief pause as China adopts strategic patience

For the opening segment, Trump's recent foray into international relations was successful.

Each visit was characterized by a mix of traditional trade negotiations – deals made under the threat of the president's "reciprocal" duties – and special treatment that at times verged on the obsequious.

In Malaysia, Trump gained rights to key materials and made headway toward completing commercial deals with regional partners. He also led a pact that should reduce frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace agreement" the American president loves to tout.

In Japan, Trump's Marine One passed by a Tokyo Tower displayed US flag colors – with a summit in golden.

Recently chosen Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi described $half-trillion in Tokyo's funding in the United States and offered the US leader a offering of 250 sakura trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a sports gear and carrier that was owned by the late leader, the killed past head who bonded with Trump in his first term.

She also became the most recent foreign leader to propose Trump for his long-sought Nobel Peace Prize.

Not to be outdone, the Korean government greeted the president with guns discharging a honor salute and a armed forces orchestra that rendered Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the Village People anthem that has become a political gathering theme.

President Lee Jae Myung held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he awarded the American leader his country's highest medal and a replica of an historical royal headpiece.

Midday meal with the Korean leader included a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-covered baked goods. Afterward, the Koreans provided Trump fine beverage at an private meal in the president's honor with half-dozen world leaders participating in the APEC summit.

In the US, Trump may be the subject of "Anti-Authority" demonstrations by the public who reject his limit-pushing extensions of leader's control, but during his Asian swing he was received as royalty.

And like the rulers of ancient times, Trump came to South Korea requesting tribute – in the form of $two hundred billion in monetary contributions, $twenty billion a annually, from South Korea to the United States, to be used at the guidance of the president's leadership. Approval on the details of those payments contributed to that the tax percentage on Korean exports to the United States would drop from twenty-five percent to fifteen percent.

The primary focus of Trump's regional visit came in its last moments, though, as he met with Xi.

In that setting, the authority balance between heads of the global top two markets was noticeably different than the interactions Trump had with his international peers in prior visits.

Absent were typical pageantry and the spectacle. Lacking armed forces orchestras, without honour guards, missing meticulously designed meal plans marking mutual national affection. By contrast, the pair of counterparts and their top aides were seated across a long white discussion surface in a plain service structure just near the airstrip of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was likely a indication of the high stakes that when Trump shook hands with the Chinese leader in the southern port, he looked