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Presidential journeys abroad have traditionally been an opportunity to showcase the strength of the American nation on the world stage. Trump's week-long trip through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the clout of the president – but also, at times, of that influence's boundaries.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the course of the initial days were an exercise in pleasing a at times unpredictable president. It was an recognition that the leader, with the signature of a document, could introduce taxes and additional actions that have the ability to devastate the markets of export-dependent countries.

His discussion with Beijing's head Xi Jinping on Thursday, though, was something entirely different.

It was a session of peers on the world platform, where the stakes for the two powers – for their financial health, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their citizens – were enormous.

With Beijing, Trump may use his authority, but such actions entail repercussions. They involve a cost.

• Trump praises 'amazing' meeting with the Chinese leader but no agreement reached
• The Chinese president and Trump find brief pause as China pursues extended strategy

For the initial phase, Trump's recent venture into global diplomacy was smooth sailing.

Each stop was punctuated by a mix of traditional economic talks – arrangements made under the shadow of Trump's "equivalent" taxes – and individual concessions that at moments bordered on the deferential.

In the Malaysian stop, the president obtained rights to critical minerals and made advances toward concluding commercial deals with ASEAN countries. He also oversaw a pact that should reduce border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace agreement" the president prefers to promote.

In the Japanese leg, the president's official aircraft passed by a landmark tower displayed US flag colors – with a top in golden.

Freshly appointed Head the Japanese leader described $550bn in Japanese investments in the United States and offered the American president a gift of 250 flowering trees for America's 250th birthday, and a golf club and case that was owned by Shinzo Abe, the assassinated former prime minister who bonded with Trump in his previous administration.

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

Matching the effort, Korea received Trump with guns discharging a honor salute and a military band that rendered Hail to the Chief and the classic tune – the band anthem that has turned into a presidential event theme.

President Lee held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he awarded the US president his state's top honor and a copy of an historical royal headpiece.

Midday meal with the Korean leader contained a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-covered baked goods. Later that day, the hosts provided Trump premium vintage at an exclusive gathering in the president's honor with half-dozen world leaders participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference summit.

In the United States, the president may be the focus of "Anti-Authority" rallies by Americans who disapprove of his authority-expanding increases of executive authority, but during his regional visit he was handled as monarchy.

And like the rulers of ancient times, Trump visited Korea demanding payment – in the shape of $200bn in monetary contributions, $20bn a year, from Korea to the US, to be used at the guidance of the president's government. Agreement on the details of those payments assisted in that the duty level on South Korean products to the America would decrease from 25% to 15%.

The central moment of the president's regional visit took place in its concluding phase, however, as he met with the Chinese leader.

At that location, the influence relationship between heads of the global top two markets was markedly different than the interactions Trump had with his overseas colleagues in earlier stops.

Not present were all the ceremony and the spectacle. No armed forces orchestras, absent honour guards, missing carefully crafted dining selections marking mutual national affection. Rather, the pair of counterparts and their senior advisors sat across a extended light-colored meeting furniture in a nondescript military building just off the runway of Busan's global terminal.

It was likely a demonstration of the high stakes that when Trump shook hands with Xi in Busan, he seemed