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US presidential trips internationally have typically been an occasion to demonstrate the strength of the American nation on the world stage. Donald Trump's week-long trip through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the clout of Trump – but also, at points, of that power's boundaries.

Trump's stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the span of the initial days were an display in pleasing a at times unpredictable US leader. It was an acknowledgement that the leader, with the flick of a document, could introduce tariffs and other measures that have the potential to devastate the financial systems of trade-reliant nations.

His meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the last day, though, was a distinct situation.

It was a encounter of peers on the international scene, where the risks for each country – for their markets, for their world reputation, for the well-being of their citizens – were immense.

With Beijing, Trump may flick his power, but those steps entail consequences. They carry a toll.

• Trump hails 'remarkable' talks with the Chinese leader but no trade deal reached
• Xi and the US leader reach temporary truce as Beijing pursues extended strategy

For the initial phase, the president's latest foray into international relations was smooth sailing.

Each stop was punctuated by a blend of standard commercial discussions – deals made under the pressure of the president's "mutual" taxes – and individual concessions that at moments bordered on the deferential.

In Malaysia, the president secured access to critical minerals and made advances toward concluding economic agreements with regional partners. He also presided over a agreement that should ease border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace agreement" the American president enjoys to tout.

In the Japanese leg, the president's official aircraft passed by a famous structure displayed American colors – with a top in Trumpian gold.

Newly elected Head Takaichi outlined $550bn in Japan's financial commitments in the America and gave the American president a offering of 250 sakura trees for the United States' semiquincentennial, and a golf equipment and bag that belonged to former Prime Minister Abe, the assassinated former prime minister who developed ties with the president in his previous administration.

She also became the latest foreign leader to nominate Trump for his long-sought international honor.

Not to be outdone, South Korea received Trump with cannons firing a 21-gun salute and a military band that rendered Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the Village People song that has turned into a Trump rally standard.

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

Lunch with Lee featured a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gold-covered baked goods. Afterward, the South Koreans served Trump premium vintage at an private meal in Trump's honour with multiple world leaders participating in the APEC summit.

In the America, the president may be the focus of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by US citizens who disapprove of his authority-expanding increases of executive authority, but during his East Asia swing he was treated like nobility.

And like the rulers of old, Trump came to South Korea requesting contribution – in the form of $200bn in monetary contributions, $twenty billion a annually, from Korea to the America, to be invested at the discretion of Trump's administration. Agreement on the terms of those payments assisted in that the tax percentage on Korean goods to the America would decrease from twenty-five percent to 15%.

The main event of Trump's Asia trip took place in its last moments, nevertheless, as he sat down with Xi.

In that setting, the influence relationship between leaders of the global top two markets was markedly divergent than the interactions the president had with his overseas colleagues in prior visits.

Missing were the usual pageantry and the pageantry. Lacking military bands, without honour guards, missing meticulously designed meal plans celebrating bilateral friendship. Instead, the both heads and their key staff were seated across a large pale negotiating table in a unremarkable military building just adjacent to the landing strip of Busan's international airport.

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