"I think Abe understands that Trump is a brittle person who takes offense easily and he will want to set a positive tone. He didn't have good chemistry with Obama," says Kingston.

"Japan is the closest US ally in Asia and he'll want this to be reaffirmed," says Kingston.

Abe "will be seeking security reassurances and will no doubt press the point that it would be counterproductive to start a trade war with China," he added.

Japan will also want to know how Trump plans to approach North Korea, which has ramped up its testing of missiles this year, including a nuclear warhead.

Trump has said he would be happy to host the country's dictator, Kim Jong Un, for a visit.

And Beijing is braced for Trump's blows, at least initially.

However, Shen Dingli, vice dean of the Institute of International Affairs, Shanghai's Fudan University, is skeptical that Trump will make good on his campaign rhetoric given the deep ties between the world's two biggest economies.

"A trade war is inconceivable," said Shen.

"Trump is a smart person. He said this to get the votes. Once he's in power, he will continue to be smart and won't want to hurt his chances to be re-elected."

The Global Times painted Trump as an isolationist who, with a highly divided nation at home, would be "reluctant to raise antagonism with China."

"Without unity inside, a major power won't be determined to make troubles outside," the editorial said.

Kingston said Trump's reception in China will ultimately depend on whether he delivers on the tough talk on trade.

"If he does, he will find it difficult to work with China. Trump has a short fuse, he could be easily manipulated and that could lead to conflict."

"But that aside, Trump has gifted them (China) global influence."

"Getting in early is smart for Abe," said John Delury, an associate professor of Asian Studies at Yonsei University in Seoul. "South Korea right now, it's (effectively) leaderless, there's nobody really to meet Trump."

Park is expected to be questioned by prosecutors this week, making travel unlikely. Multiple aides have resigned and she was forced to sack her prime minister.

There's a lot at stake. The country, which is technically in a state of war against a nuclear armed North Korea, is home to 28,500 US troops that would defend the country in case of conflict.

It's also where the United States plans deploy THAAD, a sophisticated missile defense system.

"Trump talking about renegotiating the alliance -- he feels he has a strong mandate. Park's lost the mandate, that's a bad way to go into a negotiation," Delury added.

The White House under Trump would have a better relationship with Duterte, who are both strongmen populists, says Richard Javad Heydarian, a political science professor at De La Salle University in Manila.

"Duterte as president will be more comfortable with Trump. Trump's more relaxed on human rights and democracy," Heydarian says.

However, Heydarian fears a Trump administration, preoccupied and distracted with domestic issues, would not benefit smaller Asian nations like the Philippines in the longer term.

"The US ability to project its power will be reduced and the momentum will go to China."

Trump, however, has suggested he would like to see an improvement in relations.

Though Trump has yet to reveal concrete plans for diplomatic relations with Pakistan, in a presidential town hall interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, said the country was "a vital problem" for the US given their possession of nuclear weapons.

Mosharraf Zaidi, an analyst at Pakistani education organization Alif Ailaan, told CNN that the US' stance of favoring India would likely continue under Trump.

"As ever, Pakistan will have to deal with American pressure to support US and Indian interests in Afghanistan," Zaidi said.

"A smart US president will be able to work closely with Pakistan, whilst also managing Indian expectations."

Zaidi also explained that Pakistan's recent successes in dismantling some terrorist groups in the region set it up to be a strong ally in the fight against ISIS.