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American leader visits internationally have traditionally been an chance to showcase the influence of the American nation on the world stage. The president's five-day tour through Asian nations, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the clout of Trump – but also, at times, of that authority's boundaries.

The president's stops in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the opening phase were an demonstration in catering to a occasionally volatile American president. It was an admission that the president, with the signature of a document, could introduce tariffs and further steps that have the ability to devastate the financial systems of trade-reliant states.

His sit-down with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the final day, though, was a completely different scenario.

It was a session of equals on the international scene, where the consequences for each country – for their financial health, for their international prestige, for the well-being of their populations – were enormous.

With China, the president may flick his pen, but such actions entail consequences. They involve a toll.

• Trump describes 'amazing' meeting with Xi but no pact reached
• Xi and Trump reach brief pause as China adopts strategic patience

For the initial phase, the president's recent venture into world politics was uneventful.

Each stop was characterized by a combination of standard trade negotiations – agreements made under the pressure of Trump's "mutual" duties – and special treatment that at points verged on the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, the president secured access to essential resources and made progress toward concluding trade arrangements with ASEAN countries. He also presided over a agreement that should alleviate territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "truce" the president enjoys to promote.

In Japan, the president's helicopter passed by a landmark tower lit American colors – with a top in golden.

Freshly appointed Prime Minister Takaichi detailed $550bn in Japan's financial commitments in the America and gave the president a gift of a quarter-thousand flowering trees for the United States' semiquincentennial, and a sports gear and carrier that was owned by Shinzo Abe, the killed former prime minister who bonded with the president in his initial presidency.

She also became the most recent overseas counterpart to propose the president for his long-sought international honor.

Not to be outdone, Korea greeted the president with cannons performing a 21-gun salute and a armed forces orchestra that performed the leader's song and the classic tune – the Village People anthem that has evolved into a political gathering standard.

Head Lee held an "honour ceremony" for the US leader during which he presented the American leader his country's top honor and a replica of an historical royal headpiece.

Lunch with Lee included a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded brownies. Later that day, the hosts offered Trump fine beverage at an private meal in Trump's recognition with multiple global figures participating in the APEC meeting.

In the America, Trump may be the focus of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by the public who disapprove of his limit-pushing extensions of leader's control, but during his regional tour he was treated like monarchy.

And like the monarchs of ancient times, Trump came to the Korean nation requesting contribution – in the guise of $two hundred billion in monetary contributions, $twenty billion a annually, from Korea to the US, to be used at the discretion of the president's leadership. Agreement on the details of those contributions assisted in that the tariff rate on South Korean exports to the America would decrease from 25% to 15%.

The central moment of the president's regional visit came in its final hours, nevertheless, as he sat down with Xi.

At that location, the authority balance between heads of the planet's biggest economic powers was markedly distinct than the meetings Trump had with his overseas colleagues in previous days.

Missing were the usual ceremony and the spectacle. No military bands, absent protocol units, missing thoughtfully prepared meal plans celebrating mutual national affection. Instead, the two leaders and their key staff were seated across a extended light-colored discussion surface in a unremarkable service structure just adjacent to the landing strip of the southern port's air transport hub.

It was perhaps a demonstration of the major consequences that when the president made contact with Xi in the southern port, he looked