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American leader visits overseas have historically been an opportunity to display the power of the United States on the world stage. Donald Trump's five-day tour through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a display of the power of the president – but also, at points, of that authority's boundaries.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the initial days were an demonstration in catering to a at times unpredictable president. It was an acknowledgement that the president, with the flick of a document, could impose duties and further steps that have the ability to harm the markets of export-oriented states.

His sit-down with Chinese leader Xi on Thursday, however, was a completely different scenario.

It was a encounter of counterparts on the international scene, where the stakes for both nations – for their markets, for their international prestige, for the prosperity of their populations – were immense.

With the Chinese, Trump may wave his power, but such actions entail repercussions. They carry a price.

• The US president describes 'amazing' talks with the Chinese leader but no agreement finalized
• Xi and the US leader reach temporary truce as China plays longer game

For the opening segment, the president's latest entry into world politics was successful.

Each destination was characterized by a combination of standard trade negotiations – deals made under the shadow of the president's "equivalent" taxes – and personal accommodations that at times approached the subservient.

In Malaysia, Trump obtained entry to essential resources and made advances toward concluding commercial deals with ASEAN countries. He also oversaw a agreement that should reduce border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace deal" the US leader loves to tout.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's official aircraft flew past a famous structure illuminated red, white and blue – with a summit in Trumpian gold.

Recently chosen Head Takaichi detailed $550 billion in Japan's financial commitments in the America and gave the American president a gift of two hundred fifty flowering trees for the United States' 250th birthday, and a golf equipment and case that came from the late leader, the killed past head who developed ties with Trump in his previous administration.

She also became the latest international head to propose the president for his highly-coveted peace award.

Matching the effort, South Korea welcomed the president with artillery discharging a 21-gun salute and a armed forces orchestra that rendered Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the Village People tune that has evolved into a presidential event theme.

Head the Korean president held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he gave the American leader his state's highest medal and a model of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Noon repast with Lee included a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gilded baked goods. Later that day, the South Koreans served Trump premium vintage at an exclusive gathering in Trump's honour with six global figures present at the APEC conference.

In the United States, the president may be the focus of "No Kings" rallies by Americans who oppose his limit-pushing increases of leader's control, but during his East Asia swing he was treated like monarchy.

And like the monarchs of old, the president came to Korea requesting payment – in the guise of $200 billion in cash payments, $20bn a per year, from Korea to the America, to be invested at the discretion of the president's government. Approval on the details of those transfers contributed to that the tax percentage on South Korean products to the America would fall from twenty-five percent to 15%.

The primary focus of the president's regional visit occurred in its final hours, however, as he encountered the Chinese leader.

There, the influence relationship between heads of the world's two largest economies was noticeably different than the exchanges the president had with his overseas colleagues in earlier stops.

Absent were the usual pageantry and the display. Without any armed forces orchestras, without protocol units, missing carefully crafted dining selections marking shared goodwill. Rather, the both heads and their top aides sat across a large pale negotiating table in a nondescript armed forces facility just off the runway of Busan's global terminal.

It was possibly a reflection of the major consequences that when Trump shook hands with the Chinese leader in Busan, he seemed