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American leader visits overseas have traditionally been an opportunity to display the strength of the US on the world stage. The president's week-long swing through East Asia, conversely, has been a demonstration of the clout of the president – but also, at points, of that power's limitations.

The president's stops in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the course of the opening phase were an exercise in satisfying a sometimes mercurial president. It was an recognition that the president, with the signature of a document, could impose taxes and additional actions that have the ability to damage the markets of export-oriented states.

His sit-down with Chinese leader Xi on the final day, however, was a completely different scenario.

It was a encounter of counterparts on the global stage, where the consequences for each country – for their financial health, for their global standing, for the well-being of their people – were immense.

With Beijing, the president may wave his power, but such actions come with consequences. They carry a cost.

• Trump describes 'remarkable' encounter with the Chinese leader but no agreement finalized
• Xi and Trump reach temporary truce as China plays longer game

For the first four days, the president's latest venture into world politics was uneventful.

Each visit was marked by a mix of traditional economic talks – agreements made under the shadow of Trump's "equivalent" taxes – and special treatment that at moments verged on the deferential.

In Malaysia, the president obtained entry to key materials and made headway toward finalizing economic agreements with ASEAN countries. He also presided over a pact that should alleviate frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace deal" the American president enjoys to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's helicopter passed by a famous structure displayed American colors – with a summit in Trumpian gold.

Newly elected Leader Takaichi described $550bn in Japan's financial commitments in the US and gave the American president a offering of a quarter-thousand sakura trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf equipment and case that was owned by former Prime Minister Abe, the killed past head who connected with Trump in his first term.

She also became the latest international head to nominate the president for his much-desired peace award.

Keeping pace, the Korean government received Trump with artillery performing a honor salute and a military band that rendered Hail to the Chief and the classic tune – the musical group tune that has become a Trump rally standard.

Leader Lee held an "award event" for the US leader during which he awarded the American leader his country's highest medal and a replica of an historical royal headpiece.

Lunch with Lee included a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-encrusted chocolate squares. Subsequently, the Koreans offered the president fine beverage at an exclusive gathering in the president's recognition with half-dozen international heads present at the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference conference.

In the United States, Trump may be the subject of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by the public who oppose his authority-expanding expansions of leader's control, but during his regional visit he was received as monarchy.

And like the kings of history, the president visited the Korean nation demanding tribute – in the form of $200bn in financial transfers, $20bn a annually, from South Korea to the US, to be allocated at the guidance of the president's government. Consent on the conditions of those payments helped ensure that the tax percentage on South Korean products to the America would decrease from a quarter to fifteen percent.

The central moment of the president's Asian tour took place in its concluding phase, nevertheless, as he sat down with the Chinese leader.

At that location, the authority balance between counterparts of the global top two markets was decidedly distinct than the exchanges the president had with his overseas colleagues in earlier stops.

Not present were the usual ceremony and the pageantry. No service ensembles, without protocol units, no carefully crafted meal plans honoring shared goodwill. Instead, the two leaders and their top aides sat across a long white discussion surface in a unremarkable armed forces facility just off the runway of the southern port's air transport hub.

It was possibly a reflection of the major consequences that when the president made contact with Xi in the southern port, he appeared