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Presidential journeys internationally have historically been an opportunity to demonstrate the power of the American nation on the international platform. The president's five-day swing through eastern Asia, on the other hand, has been a show of the authority of Trump – but also, at times, of that influence's boundaries.

Trump's stops in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the initial days were an exercise in catering to a sometimes mercurial US leader. It was an admission that the leader, with the signature of a document, could impose taxes and further steps that have the potential to devastate the economies of export-dependent countries.

His meeting with Chinese leader Xi on the last day, nevertheless, was something entirely different.

It was a encounter of equals on the world platform, where the stakes for both nations – for their economies, for their global standing, for the prosperity of their populations – were enormous.

With China, Trump may use his pen, but such actions involve repercussions. They come with a toll.

• Trump praises 'impressive' encounter with the Chinese leader but no agreement agreed
• The Chinese president and Trump establish short-term ceasefire as Beijing adopts strategic patience

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

Each destination was characterized by a blend of conventional commercial discussions – deals made under the threat of the president's "reciprocal" duties – and special treatment that at moments approached the deferential.

In Malaysia, the president secured entry to key materials and made advances toward completing commercial deals with ASEAN countries. He also oversaw a agreement that should reduce border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace agreement" the American president enjoys to promote.

In Japan, Trump's official aircraft flew past a famous structure displayed red, white and blue – with a summit in golden.

Newly elected Head Takaichi outlined $550 billion in Tokyo's funding in the America and gave the American president a present of two hundred fifty flowering trees for the United States' 250th birthday, and a sports gear and case that belonged to the late leader, the assassinated past head who bonded with Trump in his initial presidency.

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

Matching the effort, Korea welcomed the president with cannons performing a 21-gun salute and a military band that played Hail to the Chief and the classic tune – the band anthem that has turned into a Trump rally theme.

President Lee held an "recognition ritual" for the US leader during which he awarded the American leader his country's premier award and a copy of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Lunch with Lee contained a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gilded chocolate squares. Subsequently, the South Koreans offered the president fine beverage at an intimate dinner in Trump's honor with six international heads participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

In the America, the president may be the subject of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by the public who disapprove of his authority-expanding extensions of presidential power, but during his East Asia visit he was received as royalty.

And like the rulers of old, the president came to Korea requesting tribute – in the form of $two hundred billion in financial transfers, $twenty billion a annually, from the host nation to the United States, to be used at the guidance of Trump's government. Agreement on the conditions of those transfers assisted in that the duty level on Korean goods to the US would fall from twenty-five percent to under twenty percent.

The primary focus of the president's Asia trip took place in its final hours, though, as he met with the Chinese leader.

At that location, the authority balance between counterparts of the planet's biggest economic powers was decidedly different than the meetings the president had with his overseas colleagues in prior visits.

Not present were the usual pageantry and the pageantry. Lacking military bands, absent ceremonial troops, without carefully crafted dining selections honoring mutual national affection. By contrast, the two leaders and their key staff sat across a long white meeting furniture in a unremarkable military building just adjacent to the landing strip of Busan's global terminal.

It was possibly a demonstration of the major consequences that when Trump shook hands with Xi in the Korean city, he appeared