🔗 Share this article

Presidential journeys internationally have typically been an occasion to demonstrate the influence of the United States on the international platform. The president's multi-day tour through eastern Asia, by contrast, has been a show of the power of the leader – but also, at moments, of that authority's boundaries.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the opening phase were an demonstration in satisfying a sometimes mercurial president. It was an admission that Trump, with the signature of a pen, could introduce tariffs and additional actions that have the ability to devastate the economies of export-oriented nations.

His discussion with China's president Xi Jinping on the last day, nevertheless, was a completely different scenario.

It was a meeting of counterparts on the world platform, where the risks for the two powers – for their markets, for their world reputation, for the well-being of their citizens – were significant.

With the Chinese, the US leader may wave his authority, but such actions entail consequences. They carry a toll.

• Trump hails 'remarkable' encounter with Xi but no agreement agreed
• Xi and the US leader establish brief pause as China adopts strategic patience

For the first four days, the president's latest foray into world politics was smooth sailing.

Each destination was marked by a blend of standard trade negotiations – arrangements made under the pressure of the president's "reciprocal" taxes – and special treatment that at points verged on the deferential.

In the Malaysian stop, the president obtained rights to essential resources and made headway toward finalizing commercial deals with south-east Asian nations. He also presided over a agreement that should alleviate territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace deal" the US leader loves to promote.

In Japan, the president's helicopter passed by a famous structure lit US flag colors – with a summit in golden.

Newly elected Head Takaichi described $half-trillion in Japan's financial commitments in the US and gave the US leader a gift of 250 sakura trees for the United States' 250th anniversary, and a sports gear and case that belonged to the late leader, the assassinated former prime minister who connected with Trump in his initial presidency.

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

Not to be outdone, the Korean government received Trump with artillery performing a 21-gun salute and a military band that performed Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the Village People tune that has evolved into a presidential event theme.

Leader the Korean president held an "honour ceremony" for the US leader during which he awarded the US president his nation's highest medal and a copy of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Noon repast with the Korean leader included a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gilded chocolate squares. Subsequently, the hosts served Trump fine beverage at an intimate dinner in the president's honor with half-dozen international heads present at the APEC summit.

In the United States, Trump may be the subject of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by the public who reject his limit-pushing expansions of leader's control, but during his Asian visit he was treated like monarchy.

And like the monarchs of ancient times, Trump visited Korea demanding tribute – in the form of $two hundred billion in monetary contributions, $twenty billion a per year, from South Korea to the US, to be invested at the discretion of the president's administration. Approval on the terms of those contributions assisted in that the duty level on host nation exports to the United States would drop from twenty-five percent to under twenty percent.

The main event of Trump's regional visit took place in its concluding phase, though, as he met with Xi.

At that location, the influence relationship between counterparts of the global top two markets was markedly divergent than the meetings the president had with his foreign counterparts in prior visits.

Absent were typical ceremony and the pageantry. Without any military bands, no ceremonial troops, no thoughtfully prepared meal plans marking mutual national affection. Instead, the pair of counterparts and their key staff were seated across a large pale negotiating table in a nondescript military building just adjacent to the landing strip of the city of Busan's air transport hub.

It was perhaps a reflection of the high stakes that when the president shook hands with Xi in the Korean city, he appeared