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American leader visits abroad have historically been an occasion to demonstrate the power of the American nation on the global scene. The president's multi-day tour through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a show of the authority of the president – but also, at moments, of that influence's boundaries.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the first four days were an display in satisfying a occasionally mercurial American president. It was an admission that Trump, with the stroke of a document, could enact duties and other measures that have the capacity to harm the markets of export-dependent countries.

His sit-down with China's president Xi Jinping on the final day, nevertheless, was something entirely different.

It was a meeting of peers on the global stage, where the consequences for each country – for their financial health, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their citizens – were immense.

With the Chinese, Trump may flick his power, but those steps come with consequences. They carry a cost.

• Trump describes 'amazing' meeting with the Chinese leader but no pact finalized
• The Chinese president and Trump find temporary truce as Beijing adopts strategic patience

For the opening segment, the president's recent foray into international relations was smooth sailing.

Each stop was punctuated by a mix of standard commercial discussions – arrangements made under the pressure of Trump's "mutual" tariffs – and personal accommodations that at points verged on the obsequious.

In Malaysia, the president secured rights to key materials and made headway toward concluding economic agreements with ASEAN countries. He also presided over a treaty that should ease territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace deal" the US leader enjoys to highlight.

In Japan, Trump's official aircraft passed by a landmark tower lit US flag colors – with a top in gilded.

Recently chosen Prime Minister the Japanese leader outlined $550bn in Tokyo's funding in the US and gave the US leader a offering of two hundred fifty sakura trees for the United States' 250th anniversary, and a sports gear and carrier that came from the late leader, the murdered former prime minister who connected with the president in his initial presidency.

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

Not to be outdone, South Korea greeted the president with guns discharging a traditional greeting and a service ensemble that played the leader's song and the Village People song – the Village People tune that has become a presidential event anthem.

Head the Korean president held an "award event" for the US leader during which he gave the US president his country's highest medal and a replica of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Lunch with the Korean leader featured a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gold-encrusted chocolate squares. Afterward, the Koreans offered Trump fine beverage at an private meal in the president's honor with half-dozen world leaders present at the APEC conference.

In the United States, the president may be the target of "Anti-Monarchy" protests by US citizens who oppose his authority-expanding expansions of presidential power, but during his regional visit he was received as nobility.

And like the rulers of ancient times, Trump arrived in Korea demanding tribute – in the guise of $200bn in financial transfers, $20 billion a annually, from South Korea to the United States, to be invested at the guidance of Trump's administration. Agreement on the details of those payments assisted in that the tariff rate on Korean goods to the United States would fall from a quarter to 15%.

The main event of Trump's Asia trip occurred in its concluding phase, though, as he met with the Chinese leader.

At that location, the authority balance between leaders of the global top two markets was markedly divergent than the exchanges Trump had with his foreign counterparts in previous days.

Not present were typical pageantry and the display. Lacking military bands, absent ceremonial troops, missing meticulously designed dining selections marking mutual national affection. Instead, the both heads and their key staff sat across a large pale meeting furniture in a nondescript military building just off the runway of Busan's international airport.

It was likely a reflection of the significant risks that when Trump made contact with Xi in the southern port, he looked