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American leader visits overseas have typically been an occasion to showcase the influence of the United States on the international platform. Donald Trump's five-day swing through East Asia, conversely, has been a demonstration of the clout of Trump – but also, at points, of that authority's boundaries.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the course of the first four days were an display in satisfying a occasionally mercurial US leader. It was an recognition that the president, with the stroke of a document, could impose taxes and additional actions that have the potential to devastate the markets of export-dependent states.

His discussion with Chinese leader Xi on Thursday, nevertheless, was something entirely different.

It was a meeting of equals on the global stage, where the consequences for both nations – for their economies, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their people – were significant.

With the Chinese, the US leader may use his power, but those steps involve consequences. They involve a price.

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For the first four days, Trump's recent foray into world politics was uneventful.

Each visit was punctuated by a combination of standard trade negotiations – deals made under the threat of Trump's "equivalent" duties – and individual concessions that at times verged on the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, the president gained access to critical minerals and made headway toward finalizing economic agreements with ASEAN countries. He also led a treaty that should alleviate border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace agreement" the US leader enjoys to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, the president's official aircraft passed by a Tokyo Tower lit US flag colors – with a summit in Trumpian gold.

Recently chosen Prime Minister Takaichi outlined $550 billion in Tokyo's funding in the United States and offered the US leader a present of a quarter-thousand cherry trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf equipment and case that belonged to former Prime Minister Abe, the killed ex-leader who developed ties with Trump in his previous administration.

She also became the most recent foreign leader to propose the president for his much-desired Nobel Peace Prize.

Keeping pace, Korea received Trump with artillery firing a honor salute and a armed forces orchestra that played the presidential anthem and the classic tune – the musical group tune that has become a political gathering anthem.

Head the Korean president held an "award event" for the US leader during which he gave the American leader his state's top honor and a model of an historical royal headpiece.

Noon repast with the Korean leader contained a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gilded chocolate squares. Afterward, the hosts offered the president fine beverage at an intimate dinner in the president's honor with six global figures attending the APEC meeting.

In the United States, Trump may be the target of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by the public who oppose his boundary-testing extensions of presidential power, but during his East Asia swing he was handled as nobility.

And like the monarchs of ancient times, Trump came to Korea seeking payment – in the guise of $200bn in monetary contributions, $20bn a year, from South Korea to the United States, to be used at the discretion of the president's government. Consent on the details of those transfers contributed to that the duty level on host nation products to the America would drop from 25% to under twenty percent.

The main event of the president's Asian tour took place in its concluding phase, however, as he encountered the Chinese leader.

At that location, the power dynamic between heads of the planet's biggest economic powers was decidedly distinct than the interactions Trump had with his international peers in previous days.

Not present were the usual ceremony and the spectacle. Without any armed forces orchestras, no ceremonial troops, no carefully crafted dining selections marking mutual national affection. By contrast, the both heads and their senior advisors were seated across a extended light-colored meeting furniture in a plain armed forces facility just off the runway of the city of Busan's international airport.

It was possibly a demonstration of the significant risks that when Trump exchanged greetings with Xi in the Korean city, he looked