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American leader visits internationally have typically been an occasion to demonstrate the power of the US on the international platform. The president's week-long trip through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the power of the leader – but also, at points, of that influence's limitations.

The president's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the course of the first four days were an display in pleasing a occasionally mercurial US leader. It was an admission that the leader, with the signature of a document, could enact tariffs and additional actions that have the ability to damage the markets of export-oriented states.

His sit-down with Beijing's head Xi Jinping on the last day, nevertheless, was a distinct situation.

It was a encounter of counterparts on the global stage, where the risks for both nations – for their markets, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their people – were immense.

With the Chinese, Trump may wave his power, but these moves come with repercussions. They involve a price.

• Trump praises 'amazing' talks with Xi but no pact finalized
• The Chinese president and the US leader reach brief pause as China adopts strategic patience

For the initial phase, Trump's recent foray into world politics was smooth sailing.

Each stop was punctuated by a mix of conventional commercial discussions – agreements made under the shadow of Trump's "equivalent" taxes – and personal accommodations that at times approached the deferential.

In Malaysia, the president gained access to essential resources and made headway toward concluding economic agreements with south-east Asian nations. He also led a treaty that should ease frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "truce" the American president prefers to tout.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's Marine One flew past a Tokyo Tower illuminated American colors – with a peak in golden.

Freshly appointed Head Sanai Takaichi detailed $550bn in Japanese investments in the America and gave the president a present of 250 cherry trees for the United States' 250th birthday, and a golf equipment and case that came from the late leader, the murdered ex-leader who developed ties with Trump in his initial presidency.

She also became the latest foreign leader to nominate Trump for his highly-coveted peace award.

Not to be outdone, the Korean government received the president with guns performing a 21-gun salute and a armed forces orchestra that played the leader's song and the classic tune – the musical group tune that has become a presidential event theme.

Leader the Korean president held an "award event" for Trump during which he presented the US president his country's top honor and a replica of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Noon repast with Lee contained a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gold-encrusted brownies. Afterward, the South Koreans offered the president premium vintage at an intimate dinner in Trump's recognition with multiple world leaders attending the APEC meeting.

In the America, Trump may be the focus of "No Kings" demonstrations by the public who reject his boundary-testing increases of executive authority, but during his regional tour he was received as royalty.

And like the kings of history, the president arrived in the Korean nation requesting contribution – in the shape of $200 billion in cash payments, $20 billion a year, from South Korea to the United States, to be invested at the direction of Trump's leadership. Approval on the conditions of those transfers assisted in that the tax percentage on Korean exports to the United States would fall from 25% to fifteen percent.

The primary focus of the president's Asian tour took place in its concluding phase, nevertheless, as he sat down with Xi.

There, the authority balance between counterparts of the world's two largest economies was decidedly divergent than the meetings Trump had with his foreign counterparts in previous days.

Missing were the usual pageantry and the pageantry. Without any armed forces orchestras, absent protocol units, missing thoughtfully prepared meal plans marking bilateral friendship. Rather, the pair of counterparts and their key staff sat across a extended light-colored meeting furniture in a unremarkable military building just adjacent to the landing strip of Busan's global terminal.

It was perhaps a demonstration of the high stakes that when the president made contact with the Chinese leader in the Korean city, he seemed