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US presidential trips internationally have traditionally been an occasion to demonstrate the influence of the US on the world stage. The president's week-long trip through Asian nations, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the authority of Trump – but also, at moments, of that authority's constraints.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the span of the initial days were an exercise in catering to a occasionally unpredictable American president. It was an admission that Trump, with the flick of a pen, could introduce duties and additional actions that have the ability to harm the markets of export-dependent countries.

His discussion with Chinese leader Xi on the last day, though, was something entirely different.

It was a meeting of peers on the international scene, where the risks for the two powers – for their economies, for their international prestige, for the prosperity of their citizens – were significant.

With China, the president may use his pen, but such actions involve repercussions. They come with a cost.

• Trump describes 'impressive' talks with the Chinese leader but no pact finalized
• Xi and Trump find temporary truce as Beijing plays longer game

For the first four days, the president's latest venture into global diplomacy was uneventful.

Each destination was punctuated by a combination of standard trade negotiations – arrangements made under the pressure of Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs – and individual concessions that at points approached the subservient.

In Malaysia, Trump secured access to critical minerals and made advances toward finalizing commercial deals with south-east Asian nations. He also oversaw a pact that should alleviate frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace deal" the American president enjoys to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, the president's Marine One passed by a famous structure displayed US flag colors – with a top in golden.

Freshly appointed Prime Minister the Japanese leader described $half-trillion in Japanese investments in the United States and offered the president a gift of two hundred fifty flowering trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a sports gear and carrier that belonged to the late leader, the assassinated ex-leader who developed ties with the president in his initial presidency.

She also became the most recent overseas counterpart to suggest the president for his much-desired Nobel Peace Prize.

Not to be outdone, the Korean government greeted the president with cannons firing 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 standard.

Head Lee held an "honour ceremony" for the US leader during which he gave the president his state's premier award and a replica of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Midday meal with Lee contained a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded brownies. Later that day, the South Koreans served Trump premium vintage at an exclusive gathering in Trump's honour with multiple world leaders participating in the APEC meeting.

In the America, the president may be the subject of "Anti-Monarchy" rallies by the public who reject his limit-pushing expansions of executive authority, but during his East Asia tour he was treated like royalty.

And like the monarchs of ancient times, Trump came to the Korean nation seeking contribution – in the form of $200bn in monetary contributions, $20bn a year, from the host nation to the US, to be allocated at the discretion of Trump's administration. Consent on the terms of those payments helped ensure that the tax percentage on host nation products to the United States would drop from 25% to 15%.

The central moment of the president's Asia trip came in its final hours, though, as he encountered the Chinese leader.

At that location, the power dynamic between counterparts of the world's two largest economies was markedly distinct than the interactions Trump had with his foreign counterparts in prior visits.

Not present were the usual pomp and the display. No military bands, absent ceremonial troops, missing carefully crafted meal plans honoring shared goodwill. Instead, the pair of counterparts and their senior advisors sat across a large pale discussion surface in a plain armed forces facility just adjacent to the landing strip of Busan's air transport hub.

It was possibly a indication of the high stakes that when the president made contact with the Chinese leader in the Korean city, he seemed