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Presidential journeys abroad have typically been an chance to display the influence of the American nation on the world stage. Trump's multi-day swing through Asian nations, on the other hand, has been a show of the clout of the leader – but also, at points, of that influence's boundaries.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the span of the first four days were an display in pleasing a occasionally mercurial president. It was an admission that Trump, with the signature of a hand, could enact duties and further steps that have the ability to harm the markets of trade-reliant countries.

His discussion with Chinese leader Xi on the final day, though, was a distinct situation.

It was a encounter of peers on the global stage, where the consequences for both nations – for their economies, for their international prestige, for the prosperity of their people – were significant.

With China, Trump may flick his power, but such actions involve consequences. They involve a toll.

• The US president describes 'remarkable' meeting with the Chinese leader but no agreement finalized
• Xi and the US leader establish brief pause as China plays longer game

For the first four days, the president's recent entry into world politics was uneventful.

Each visit was punctuated by a combination of conventional commercial discussions – arrangements made under the pressure of Trump's "mutual" duties – and special treatment that at points bordered on the deferential.

In the Malaysian stop, the president obtained access to essential resources and made headway toward concluding trade arrangements with south-east Asian nations. He also oversaw a pact that should ease border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace agreement" the American president loves to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's official aircraft soared near a landmark tower illuminated US flag colors – with a top in golden.

Recently chosen Leader Takaichi detailed $550bn in Japanese investments in the America and presented the US leader a present of 250 cherry trees for the United States' 250th anniversary, and a golf equipment and carrier that belonged to former Prime Minister Abe, the murdered former prime minister who bonded with the president in his first term.

She also became the newest international head to nominate Trump for his long-sought Nobel Peace Prize.

Matching the effort, the Korean government welcomed Trump with artillery discharging a traditional greeting and a service ensemble that played the leader's song and YMCA – the band song that has turned into a Trump rally standard.

Head the Korean president held an "recognition ritual" for the US leader during which he presented the American leader his country's highest medal and a replica of an historical royal headpiece.

Noon repast with Lee featured a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gold-covered chocolate squares. Afterward, the South Koreans offered Trump vineyard wine at an intimate dinner in the president's honor with half-dozen international heads attending the APEC summit.

In the United States, Trump may be the focus of "Anti-Monarchy" protests by US citizens who oppose his limit-pushing increases of leader's control, but during his East Asia swing he was received as monarchy.

And like the kings of history, Trump came to South Korea seeking tribute – in the form of $two hundred billion in financial transfers, $20bn a annually, from South Korea to the United States, to be invested at the discretion of Trump's administration. Agreement on the terms of those payments contributed to that the duty level on host nation exports to the US would drop from a quarter to 15%.

The primary focus of the president's Asian tour occurred in its concluding phase, however, as he sat down with the Chinese leader.

There, the authority balance between heads of the global top two markets was noticeably divergent than the meetings Trump had with his international peers in prior visits.

Missing were typical ceremony and the pageantry. No military bands, without protocol units, missing thoughtfully prepared meal plans marking bilateral friendship. Rather, the pair of counterparts and their key staff were seated across a long white meeting furniture in a plain armed forces facility just near the airstrip of the southern port's international airport.

It was perhaps a demonstration of the major consequences that when Trump exchanged greetings with the Chinese leader in the southern port, he seemed