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Presidential journeys internationally have typically been an opportunity to display the influence of the US on the world stage. Donald Trump's five-day tour through eastern Asia, by contrast, has been a demonstration of the authority of the leader – but also, at times, of that influence's boundaries.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the first four days were an display in pleasing a sometimes unpredictable US leader. It was an recognition that Trump, with the flick of a document, could enact tariffs and other measures that have the potential to devastate the financial systems of export-oriented states.

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

It was a encounter of equals on the global stage, where the consequences for the two powers – for their markets, for their global standing, for the well-being of their populations – were enormous.

With China, Trump may wave his pen, but these moves entail consequences. They carry a price.

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For the first four days, the president's recent foray into global diplomacy was smooth sailing.

Each visit was characterized by a mix of conventional trade negotiations – deals made under the pressure of Trump's "reciprocal" taxes – and individual concessions that at times bordered on the obsequious.

In the Malaysian stop, the president secured access to key materials and made progress toward completing economic agreements with ASEAN countries. He also oversaw a agreement that should alleviate territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace agreement" the US leader prefers to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's Marine One flew past a famous structure illuminated red, white and blue – with a top in Trumpian gold.

Recently chosen Leader Sanai Takaichi described $half-trillion in Japan's financial commitments in the US and presented the American president a gift of a quarter-thousand sakura trees for the United States' 250th anniversary, and a golf equipment and bag that was owned by former Prime Minister Abe, the assassinated past head who bonded with the president in his previous administration.

She also became the newest overseas counterpart to propose Trump for his much-desired peace award.

Matching the effort, Korea received the president with guns discharging a honor salute and a service ensemble that rendered the leader's song and YMCA – the band song that has turned into a Trump rally anthem.

Head Lee Jae Myung held an "recognition ritual" for the US leader during which he awarded the president his state's premier award and a replica of an historical royal headpiece.

Lunch with the Korean leader included a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gold-encrusted chocolate squares. Afterward, the South Koreans provided the president fine beverage at an exclusive gathering in the president's recognition with half-dozen global figures participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference conference.

In the United States, the president may be the target of "Anti-Authority" protests by Americans who reject his boundary-testing extensions of presidential power, but during his East Asia tour he was treated like monarchy.

And like the kings of ancient times, Trump arrived in the Korean nation requesting tribute – in the guise of $200bn in cash payments, $20bn a annually, from Korea to the America, to be invested at the discretion of the president's government. Agreement on the terms of those contributions contributed to that the tax percentage on Korean exports to the America would decrease from twenty-five percent to fifteen percent.

The central moment of Trump's regional visit occurred in its concluding phase, though, as he encountered Xi.

In that setting, the influence relationship between heads of the world's two largest economies was noticeably different than the meetings the president had with his international peers in earlier stops.

Not present were typical pageantry and the pageantry. Lacking military bands, without honour guards, missing carefully crafted menus honoring shared goodwill. By contrast, the both heads and their top aides positioned themselves across a large pale negotiating table in a unremarkable armed forces facility just adjacent to the landing strip of the city of Busan's air transport hub.

It was likely a indication of the high stakes that when Trump shook hands with the Chinese leader in Busan, he looked