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American leader visits internationally have historically been an chance to display the strength of the American nation on the international platform. Donald Trump's five-day tour through eastern Asia, conversely, has been a demonstration of the clout of the leader – but also, at moments, of that power's limitations.

The president's stops in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the first four days were an demonstration in catering to a occasionally unpredictable president. It was an admission that the leader, with the flick of a document, could introduce duties and additional actions that have the potential to damage the financial systems of export-oriented nations.

His meeting with China's president Xi Jinping on Thursday, nevertheless, was a distinct situation.

It was a meeting of equals on the international scene, where the risks for both nations – for their economies, for their global standing, for the prosperity of their populations – were enormous.

With Beijing, the US leader may wave his authority, but such actions entail repercussions. They involve a cost.

• The US president hails 'impressive' meeting with Xi but no pact reached
• Xi and Trump reach brief pause as Beijing plays longer game

For the initial phase, Trump's latest venture into international relations was uneventful.

Each visit was marked by a mix of standard economic talks – arrangements made under the pressure of Trump's "reciprocal" duties – and special treatment that at moments approached the deferential.

In the Malaysian stop, the president gained rights to essential resources and made progress toward finalizing economic agreements with ASEAN countries. He also oversaw a agreement that should reduce border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace deal" the US leader prefers to tout.

In Japan, the president's Marine One flew past a famous structure lit American colors – with a top in golden.

Newly elected Prime Minister the Japanese leader outlined $550 billion in Japanese investments in the America and presented the US leader a gift of two hundred fifty cherry trees for America's semiquincentennial, and a sports gear and bag that belonged to the late leader, the murdered past head who connected with the president in his initial presidency.

She also became the most recent foreign leader to suggest the president for his highly-coveted peace award.

Not to be outdone, the Korean government greeted the president with guns performing a 21-gun salute and a armed forces orchestra that played Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the musical group tune that has become a presidential event standard.

Head Lee Jae Myung held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he gave the president his country's top honor and a replica of an historical royal headpiece.

Lunch with the Korean leader included a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gilded baked goods. Afterward, the Koreans served the president vineyard wine at an intimate dinner in Trump's honor with half-dozen international heads present at the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference summit.

In the US, the president may be the target of "No Kings" protests by the public who disapprove of his authority-expanding increases of presidential power, but during his East Asia swing he was handled as royalty.

And like the rulers of history, Trump came to the Korean nation seeking tribute – in the shape of $200 billion in financial transfers, $twenty billion a per year, from Korea to the US, to be invested at the discretion of Trump's administration. Consent on the terms of those contributions helped ensure that the tariff rate on Korean exports to the US would fall from 25% to fifteen percent.

The primary focus of the president's Asian tour came in its last moments, nevertheless, as he met with the Chinese leader.

At that location, the power dynamic between counterparts of the world's two largest economies was decidedly distinct than the meetings Trump had with his foreign counterparts in earlier stops.

Missing were the usual pomp and the spectacle. Without any service ensembles, without protocol units, missing meticulously designed meal plans celebrating shared goodwill. By contrast, the both heads and their top aides sat across a large pale discussion surface in a unremarkable armed forces facility just adjacent to the landing strip of the southern port's air transport hub.

It was perhaps a indication of the significant risks that when the president made contact with the Chinese leader in the Korean city, he looked