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Presidential journeys overseas have historically been an chance to showcase the influence of the US on the global scene. The president's week-long trip through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a display of the clout of Trump – but also, at points, of that authority's limitations.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the course of the first four days were an exercise in satisfying a sometimes volatile American president. It was an admission that the president, with the flick of a pen, could introduce taxes and other measures that have the potential to devastate the economies of export-dependent states.

His discussion with Beijing's head Xi on the final day, though, was a completely different scenario.

It was a session of equals on the international scene, where the stakes for each country – for their markets, for their world reputation, for the welfare of their populations – were immense.

With the Chinese, Trump may flick his pen, but these moves entail ramifications. They come with a toll.

• The US president praises 'remarkable' talks with Xi but no agreement agreed
• The Chinese president and Trump find temporary truce as China adopts strategic patience

For the opening segment, the president's most recent venture into international relations was uneventful.

Each destination was characterized by a blend of standard commercial discussions – arrangements made under the threat of the president's "mutual" taxes – and special treatment that at times verged on the obsequious.

In Malaysia, Trump gained entry to critical minerals and made progress toward concluding economic agreements with regional partners. He also oversaw a treaty that should reduce territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "truce" the US leader loves to tout.

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

Freshly appointed Leader Sanai Takaichi outlined $half-trillion in Japanese investments in the America and presented the American president a gift of two hundred fifty flowering trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf club and case that came from Shinzo Abe, the killed ex-leader who developed ties with Trump in his first term.

She also became the latest international head to suggest the president for his much-desired Nobel Peace Prize.

Keeping pace, Korea received the president with artillery performing a traditional greeting and a service ensemble that rendered the presidential anthem and the Village People song – the Village People anthem that has become a presidential event theme.

Leader the Korean president held an "honour ceremony" for Trump during which he awarded the American leader his country's highest medal and a replica of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Noon repast with the Korean leader contained a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded chocolate squares. Afterward, the South Koreans provided the president fine beverage at an private meal in Trump's honor with half-dozen world leaders participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

In the America, the president may be the target of "Anti-Monarchy" protests by the public who reject his authority-expanding increases of leader's control, but during his East Asia swing he was received as royalty.

And like the kings of ancient times, the president visited the Korean nation demanding tribute – in the guise of $two hundred billion in monetary contributions, $20bn a annually, from South Korea to the America, to be invested at the discretion of the president's government. Agreement on the conditions of those contributions contributed to that the duty level on Korean products to the United States would drop from twenty-five percent to 15%.

The main event of Trump's Asian tour took place in its final hours, nevertheless, as he sat down with Xi.

At that location, the authority balance between heads of the global top two markets was decidedly different than the exchanges the president had with his foreign counterparts in earlier stops.

Not present were typical ceremony and the pageantry. Without any military bands, absent ceremonial troops, no carefully crafted meal plans honoring mutual national affection. Rather, the both heads and their top aides sat across a long white discussion surface in a nondescript service structure just near the airstrip of the city of Busan's international airport.

It was perhaps a indication of the significant risks that when the president exchanged greetings with the Chinese leader in Busan, he appeared