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Presidential journeys internationally have historically been an chance to display the strength of the American nation on the international platform. Trump's five-day trip through eastern Asia, conversely, has been a demonstration of the authority of Trump – but also, at moments, of that authority's boundaries.

Trump's stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the first four days were an exercise in satisfying a at times unpredictable US leader. It was an recognition that Trump, with the stroke of a hand, could introduce taxes and other measures that have the capacity to harm the markets of trade-reliant countries.

His sit-down with Beijing's head Xi Jinping on Thursday, though, was something entirely different.

It was a meeting of equals on the global stage, where the risks for the two powers – for their economies, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their citizens – were immense.

With the Chinese, the president may wave his power, but those steps entail repercussions. They involve a toll.

• Trump hails 'amazing' meeting with Xi but no agreement reached
• The Chinese president and the US leader establish brief pause as China adopts strategic patience

For the opening segment, Trump's recent foray into global diplomacy was smooth sailing.

Each visit was characterized by a mix of traditional economic talks – deals made under the pressure of Trump's "mutual" duties – and special treatment that at points bordered on the subservient.

In Malaysia, Trump gained access to essential resources and made progress toward completing trade arrangements with regional partners. He also oversaw a agreement that should ease territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace deal" the American president prefers to tout.

In the Japanese leg, the president's helicopter soared near a famous structure lit American colors – with a top in golden.

Newly elected Head Takaichi described $550bn in Tokyo's funding in the America and gave the president a gift of two hundred fifty cherry trees for America's semiquincentennial, and a golf club and case that was owned by Shinzo Abe, the assassinated past head who developed ties with Trump in his previous administration.

She also became the most recent international head to suggest the president for his much-desired international honor.

Matching the effort, the Korean government welcomed the president with cannons firing a honor salute and a service ensemble that played the presidential anthem and the classic tune – the band anthem that has evolved into a presidential event standard.

President Lee held an "recognition ritual" for the US leader during which he awarded the president his country's premier award and a model of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Noon repast with Lee included a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gold-encrusted baked goods. Afterward, the South Koreans provided the president vineyard wine at an exclusive gathering in Trump's honor with half-dozen international heads attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

In the America, the president may be the focus of "Anti-Monarchy" rallies by the public who disapprove of his boundary-testing extensions of leader's control, but during his regional tour he was handled as royalty.

And like the rulers of ancient times, Trump came to Korea seeking contribution – in the form of $two hundred billion in financial transfers, $20bn a per year, from the host nation to the America, to be used at the direction of Trump's leadership. Agreement on the terms of those contributions assisted in that the duty level on South Korean exports to the United States would decrease from 25% to fifteen percent.

The primary focus of the president's regional visit came in its concluding phase, though, as he sat down with Xi.

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

Not present were all the pageantry and the pageantry. Without any military bands, no ceremonial troops, no thoughtfully prepared meal plans marking shared goodwill. By contrast, the two leaders and their key staff positioned themselves across a large pale negotiating table in a unremarkable armed forces facility just off the runway of the city of Busan's international airport.

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