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US presidential trips overseas have typically been an chance to showcase the power of the United States on the world stage. The president's week-long swing through Asian nations, conversely, has been a show of the power of Trump – but also, at moments, of that power's constraints.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the initial days were an display in satisfying a at times unpredictable American president. It was an recognition that the president, with the stroke of a document, could impose duties and further steps that have the ability to damage the economies of export-oriented states.

His discussion with China's president Xi on Thursday, however, was a distinct situation.

It was a session of equals on the international scene, where the consequences for both nations – for their markets, for their global standing, for the prosperity of their people – were immense.

With the Chinese, the US leader may wave his authority, but these moves involve ramifications. They carry a toll.

• The US president praises 'amazing' encounter with the Chinese leader but no pact agreed
• Xi and the US leader reach temporary truce as China plays longer game

For the opening segment, the president's most recent entry into world politics was successful.

Each stop was punctuated by a blend of traditional economic talks – arrangements made under the pressure of Trump's "mutual" duties – and special treatment that at times approached the deferential.

In the Malaysian stop, Trump secured rights to critical minerals and made advances toward concluding commercial deals with regional partners. He also presided over a agreement that should ease territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace deal" the American president prefers to tout.

In Japan, Trump's official aircraft soared near a landmark tower displayed US flag colors – with a summit in golden.

Recently chosen Head Sanai Takaichi described $550 billion in Japan's financial commitments in the America and offered the president a gift of two hundred fifty sakura trees for America's 250th birthday, and a sports gear and carrier that belonged to Shinzo Abe, the killed past head who connected with the president in his previous administration.

She also became the most recent overseas counterpart to propose the president for his long-sought Nobel Peace Prize.

Not to be outdone, the Korean government greeted the president with guns discharging a 21-gun salute and a armed forces orchestra that played the leader's song and the Village People song – the Village People anthem that has become a Trump rally theme.

Leader Lee Jae Myung held an "award event" for Trump during which he gave the US president his nation's highest medal and a model of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Lunch with Lee featured a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gold-covered brownies. Subsequently, the South Koreans offered the president fine beverage at an intimate dinner in Trump's recognition with multiple world leaders present at the APEC conference.

In the America, the president may be the target of "No Kings" rallies by Americans who oppose his boundary-testing extensions of executive authority, but during his East Asia tour he was handled as nobility.

And like the kings of old, the president visited South Korea seeking payment – in the guise of $two hundred billion in cash payments, $20bn a annually, from the host nation to the US, to be invested at the guidance of Trump's government. Approval on the terms of those transfers contributed to that the duty level on Korean products to the United States would decrease from twenty-five percent to fifteen percent.

The primary focus of the president's Asian tour came in its last moments, however, as he encountered Xi.

At that location, the power dynamic between counterparts of the global top two markets was decidedly divergent than the meetings the president had with his overseas colleagues in previous days.

Not present were all the pomp and the spectacle. Without any armed forces orchestras, without honour guards, no carefully crafted meal plans honoring bilateral friendship. Rather, the both heads and their top aides were seated across a large pale meeting furniture in a plain armed forces facility just off the runway of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was possibly a reflection of the major consequences that when the president shook hands with the Chinese leader in Busan, he seemed