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Presidential journeys overseas have typically been an opportunity to showcase the influence of the United States on the global scene. Trump's week-long trip through Asian nations, on the other hand, has been a show of the authority of the leader – but also, at moments, of that power's boundaries.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the course of the first four days were an demonstration in pleasing a at times volatile US leader. It was an admission that Trump, with the stroke of a hand, could enact duties and additional actions that have the potential to devastate the economies of export-oriented countries.

His discussion with China's president Xi Jinping on the last day, however, was something entirely different.

It was a meeting of peers on the world platform, where the risks for each country – for their financial health, for their world reputation, for the welfare of their populations – were significant.

With the Chinese, the US leader may use his power, but those steps involve consequences. They carry a price.

• Trump describes 'remarkable' meeting with Xi but no agreement agreed
• The Chinese president and the US leader find temporary truce as Beijing adopts strategic patience

For the opening segment, the president's recent entry into international relations was uneventful.

Each destination was marked by a mix of standard commercial discussions – deals made under the threat of Trump's "equivalent" duties – and special treatment that at times verged on the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, the president gained entry to essential resources and made advances toward finalizing trade arrangements with regional partners. He also led a pact that should alleviate frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace deal" the American president enjoys to promote.

In the Japanese leg, the president's official aircraft flew past a Tokyo Tower lit American colors – with a top in golden.

Recently chosen Leader Sanai Takaichi described $half-trillion in Tokyo's funding in the America and gave the US leader a present of 250 cherry trees for America's 250th birthday, and a sports gear and case that was owned by former Prime Minister Abe, the murdered former prime minister who developed ties with Trump in his initial presidency.

She also became the latest overseas counterpart to nominate the president for his much-desired Nobel Peace Prize.

Keeping pace, Korea received the president with cannons discharging a traditional greeting and a military band that performed Hail to the Chief and the Village People song – the band song that has become a presidential event anthem.

Leader Lee held an "award event" for the US leader during which he awarded the president his country's premier award and a model of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Noon repast with Lee included a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gold-covered brownies. Later that day, the Koreans served Trump vineyard wine at an private meal in the president's recognition with six world leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference conference.

In the America, Trump may be the subject of "Anti-Authority" protests by Americans who reject his authority-expanding expansions of executive authority, but during his East Asia visit he was treated like monarchy.

And like the rulers of ancient times, Trump arrived in Korea requesting payment – in the guise of $200 billion in monetary contributions, $20 billion a year, from the host nation to the United States, to be used at the discretion of the president's administration. Approval on the details of those payments 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 Asia trip occurred in its concluding phase, however, as he sat down with Xi.

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

Not present were typical ceremony and the pageantry. Without any armed forces orchestras, absent ceremonial troops, missing thoughtfully prepared meal plans honoring bilateral friendship. Rather, the both heads and their senior advisors were seated across a extended light-colored discussion surface in a plain service structure just adjacent to the landing strip of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was perhaps a indication of the major consequences that when Trump shook hands with Xi in the southern port, he seemed