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Presidential journeys abroad have historically been an occasion to display the strength of the United States on the world stage. Donald Trump's five-day trip through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a show of the power of the leader – but also, at points, of that power's limitations.

The president's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the course of the opening phase were an demonstration in satisfying a at times volatile American president. It was an acknowledgement that the president, with the signature of a pen, could introduce duties and further steps that have the ability to damage the economies of trade-reliant countries.

His meeting with Beijing's head Xi on the last day, however, was something entirely different.

It was a meeting of peers on the world platform, where the stakes for the two powers – for their economies, for their global standing, for the welfare of their people – were significant.

With China, the president may use his power, but such actions entail repercussions. They involve a price.

• The US president praises 'impressive' meeting with Xi but no agreement reached
• The Chinese president and Trump reach brief pause as China plays longer game

For the opening segment, the president's latest foray into world politics was uneventful.

Each visit was marked by a blend of standard trade negotiations – arrangements made under the pressure of the president's "mutual" taxes – and special treatment that at points verged on the deferential.

In Malaysia, the president obtained access to essential resources and made advances toward concluding economic agreements with ASEAN countries. He also led a agreement that should ease frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace deal" the president enjoys to tout.

In the Japanese leg, the president's helicopter flew past a famous structure illuminated American colors – with a top in Trumpian gold.

Newly elected Head Sanai Takaichi described $half-trillion in Japanese investments in the US and gave the president a gift of 250 sakura trees for America's 250th birthday, and a sports gear and case that came from former Prime Minister Abe, the killed past head who developed ties with Trump in his previous administration.

She also became the newest foreign leader to propose Trump for his long-sought international honor.

Keeping pace, South Korea welcomed the president with cannons performing a honor salute and a service ensemble that rendered the leader's song and YMCA – the musical group anthem that has turned into a political gathering theme.

Leader Lee Jae Myung held an "honour ceremony" for Trump during which he presented the president his state's top honor and a replica of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Midday meal with Lee featured a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded baked goods. Afterward, the hosts served Trump fine beverage at an private meal in the president's honour with half-dozen global figures attending the regional summit meeting.

In the America, Trump may be the target of "Anti-Authority" rallies by Americans who disapprove of his authority-expanding expansions of executive authority, but during his Asian swing he was handled as nobility.

And like the rulers of history, Trump arrived in the Korean nation seeking payment – in the form of $200 billion in financial transfers, $20 billion a year, from South Korea to the America, to be used at the direction of the president's government. Consent on the conditions of those payments assisted in that the tariff rate on host nation exports to the US would decrease from twenty-five percent to fifteen percent.

The central moment of Trump's Asia trip occurred in its concluding phase, though, as he sat down with Xi.

In that setting, the influence relationship between heads of the world's two largest economies was markedly divergent than the interactions Trump had with his international peers in previous days.

Missing were typical pomp and the pageantry. Without any service ensembles, no ceremonial troops, missing carefully crafted menus honoring mutual national affection. Rather, the two leaders and their top aides were seated across a long white discussion surface in a unremarkable military building just adjacent to the landing strip of Busan's air transport hub.

It was likely a reflection of the major consequences that when the president shook hands with Xi in Busan, he appeared