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US presidential trips overseas have historically been an opportunity to showcase the power of the American nation on the international platform. The president's week-long tour through eastern Asia, by contrast, has been a display of the authority of the leader – but also, at moments, of that power's limitations.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the initial days were an demonstration in pleasing a occasionally unpredictable American president. It was an admission that Trump, with the signature of a pen, could introduce taxes and other measures that have the potential to damage the financial systems of trade-reliant countries.

His meeting with China's president Xi on the last day, however, was a completely different scenario.

It was a session of counterparts on the international scene, where the risks for both nations – for their markets, for their world reputation, for the well-being of their citizens – were immense.

With China, Trump may wave his power, but such actions entail repercussions. They involve a toll.

• Trump praises 'impressive' talks with the Chinese leader but no pact finalized
• Xi and Trump find brief pause as China pursues extended strategy

For the opening segment, Trump's most recent foray into international relations was uneventful.

Each stop was characterized by a blend of conventional commercial discussions – deals made under the shadow of Trump's "mutual" duties – and special treatment that at times verged on the subservient.

In Malaysia, the president gained entry to essential resources and made headway toward finalizing trade arrangements with ASEAN countries. He also oversaw a agreement that should ease border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace deal" the US leader enjoys to tout.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's Marine One passed by a landmark tower displayed US flag colors – with a top in gilded.

Recently chosen Leader Takaichi outlined $550bn in Tokyo's funding in the America and offered the American president a present of two hundred fifty flowering trees for the United States' 250th anniversary, and a sports gear and bag that came from Shinzo Abe, the assassinated ex-leader who developed ties with the president in his first term.

She also became the latest foreign leader to propose Trump for his much-desired international honor.

Matching the effort, South Korea greeted the president with guns discharging a traditional greeting and a military band that played Hail to the Chief and the Village People song – the musical group tune that has evolved into a presidential event theme.

Leader Lee Jae Myung held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he presented the American leader his country's top honor and a copy of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Lunch with the Korean leader contained a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-covered chocolate squares. Later that day, the Koreans provided Trump vineyard wine at an intimate dinner in Trump's recognition with half-dozen global figures attending the APEC conference.

In the America, the president may be the target of "Anti-Authority" protests by US citizens who reject his authority-expanding expansions of presidential power, but during his Asian visit he was handled as monarchy.

And like the monarchs of old, Trump came to South Korea seeking tribute – in the form of $two hundred billion in financial transfers, $20bn a annually, from Korea to the America, to be invested at the guidance of Trump's administration. Approval on the details of those transfers contributed to that the tariff rate on Korean products to the United States would fall from a quarter to under twenty percent.

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

At that location, the authority balance between leaders of the global top two markets was noticeably different than the exchanges the president had with his international peers in prior visits.

Absent were all the ceremony and the pageantry. Lacking military bands, no protocol units, missing carefully crafted meal plans marking bilateral friendship. Instead, the both heads and their key staff positioned themselves across a long white meeting furniture in a nondescript armed forces facility just off the runway of the southern port's international airport.

It was likely a reflection of the significant risks that when the president exchanged greetings with Xi in Busan, he looked