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American leader visits abroad have typically been an occasion to showcase the power of the American nation on the global scene. The president's multi-day trip through East Asia, by contrast, has been a display of the power of the leader – but also, at times, of that authority's limitations.

The president's stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the span of the opening phase were an display in pleasing a sometimes mercurial American president. It was an acknowledgement that Trump, with the signature of a pen, could enact tariffs and other measures that have the ability to devastate the financial systems of export-dependent countries.

His discussion with Chinese leader Xi on the last day, nevertheless, was a completely different scenario.

It was a meeting of equals on the global stage, where the consequences for both nations – for their financial health, for their global standing, for the welfare of their people – were significant.

With the Chinese, the US leader may flick his power, but these moves entail ramifications. They carry a toll.

• The US president hails 'impressive' encounter with Xi but no pact reached
• Xi and the US leader establish temporary truce as Beijing pursues extended strategy

For the initial phase, Trump's recent entry into global diplomacy was successful.

Each visit was punctuated by a combination of conventional commercial discussions – deals made under the shadow of Trump's "mutual" taxes – and special treatment that at points verged on the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, the president gained access to essential resources and made advances toward finalizing trade arrangements with regional partners. He also oversaw a treaty that should reduce frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace deal" the US leader prefers to promote.

In Japan, the president's official aircraft passed by a landmark tower lit US flag colors – with a peak in gilded.

Recently chosen Prime Minister Takaichi detailed $550bn in Japan's financial commitments in the United States and offered the president a offering of a quarter-thousand flowering trees for the United States' 250th birthday, and a sports gear and case that belonged to Shinzo Abe, the killed ex-leader who developed ties with the president in his previous administration.

She also became the newest international head to suggest Trump for his long-sought Nobel Peace Prize.

Keeping pace, South Korea welcomed Trump with artillery performing a 21-gun salute and a military band that performed the presidential anthem and the Village People song – the Village People tune that has become a political gathering anthem.

President the Korean president held an "award event" for the US leader during which he presented the president his state's highest medal and a replica of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Lunch with the Korean leader featured a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded baked goods. Afterward, the Koreans served the president vineyard wine at an exclusive gathering in the president's honour with six international heads participating in the APEC conference.

In the America, Trump may be the subject of "Anti-Authority" protests by the public who reject his authority-expanding increases of executive authority, but during his regional tour he was treated like monarchy.

And like the rulers of old, the president arrived in South Korea seeking tribute – in the shape of $two hundred billion in cash payments, $20bn a per year, from South Korea to the US, to be allocated at the direction of the president's government. Approval on the details of those payments assisted in that the tariff rate on Korean products to the United States would drop from twenty-five percent to 15%.

The central moment of the president's Asia trip took place in its final hours, nevertheless, as he encountered Xi.

At that location, the influence relationship between counterparts of the planet's biggest economic powers was noticeably divergent than the interactions Trump had with his international peers in prior visits.

Not present were all the ceremony and the pageantry. Without any service ensembles, no protocol units, no thoughtfully prepared menus honoring shared goodwill. By contrast, the both heads and their senior advisors were seated across a extended light-colored discussion surface in a nondescript military building just off the runway of Busan's international airport.

It was possibly a demonstration of the major consequences that when the president made contact with the Chinese leader in the Korean city, he appeared