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Presidential journeys internationally have traditionally been an chance to showcase the strength of the United States on the world stage. The president's five-day trip through Asian nations, by contrast, has been a show of the clout of Trump – but also, at points, of that influence's boundaries.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the course of the opening phase were an demonstration in satisfying a sometimes mercurial president. It was an admission that Trump, with the stroke of a document, could introduce duties and additional actions that have the potential to harm the financial systems of export-dependent countries.

His sit-down with Chinese leader Xi on Thursday, nevertheless, was a distinct situation.

It was a meeting of equals on the global stage, where the consequences for the two powers – for their markets, for their international prestige, for the prosperity of their people – were enormous.

With Beijing, Trump may use his authority, but such actions come with consequences. They come with a price.

• The US president hails 'amazing' meeting with Xi but no agreement reached
• The Chinese president and Trump reach temporary truce as China adopts strategic patience

For the initial phase, the president's recent venture into international relations was successful.

Each destination was punctuated by a mix of traditional trade negotiations – arrangements made under the shadow of Trump's "reciprocal" duties – and special treatment that at moments verged on the obsequious.

In Malaysia, the president gained entry to essential resources and made headway toward completing economic agreements with south-east Asian nations. He also led a treaty that should ease territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace deal" the American president loves to promote.

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

Freshly appointed Head Sanai Takaichi detailed $550 billion in Tokyo's funding in the America and presented the American president a gift of two hundred fifty cherry trees for the United States' 250th birthday, and a golf club and bag that belonged to Shinzo Abe, the murdered past head who bonded with Trump in his previous administration.

She also became the newest overseas counterpart to nominate the president for his highly-coveted international honor.

Matching the effort, South Korea received the president with cannons firing a traditional greeting and a military band that performed Hail to the Chief and the Village People song – the band song that has evolved into a presidential event theme.

President the Korean president held an "award event" for the US leader during which he presented the US president his nation's top honor and a copy of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Noon repast with the Korean leader featured a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gilded brownies. Afterward, the South Koreans provided Trump fine beverage at an intimate dinner in the president's recognition with half-dozen international heads attending the regional summit meeting.

In the America, the president may be the focus of "Anti-Authority" rallies by Americans who reject his authority-expanding extensions of executive authority, but during his regional visit he was handled as monarchy.

And like the rulers of ancient times, Trump arrived in Korea requesting contribution – in the guise of $two hundred billion in financial transfers, $twenty billion a year, from Korea to the US, to be invested at the guidance of Trump's leadership. Agreement on the terms of those payments helped ensure that the tariff rate on host nation products to the US would fall from a quarter to 15%.

The main event of the president's regional visit took place in its last moments, however, as he sat down with Xi.

At that location, the power dynamic between heads of the global top two markets was markedly distinct than the exchanges Trump had with his foreign counterparts in previous days.

Not present were the usual pomp and the display. No service ensembles, without protocol units, no meticulously designed meal plans celebrating mutual national affection. Rather, the pair of counterparts and their senior advisors positioned themselves across a long white negotiating table in a nondescript military building just near the airstrip of the city of Busan's international airport.

It was likely a demonstration of the major consequences that when the president exchanged greetings with Xi in Busan, he seemed