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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. Trump's multi-day tour through eastern Asia, by contrast, has been a show of the authority of Trump – but also, at points, of that influence's limitations.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the initial days were an demonstration in satisfying a occasionally unpredictable president. It was an recognition that the leader, with the flick of a pen, could impose duties and other measures that have the potential to devastate the economies of trade-reliant nations.

His discussion with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the final day, nevertheless, was a completely different scenario.

It was a session of equals on the international scene, where the risks for each country – for their financial health, for their international prestige, for the prosperity of their populations – were enormous.

With Beijing, the US leader may wave his power, but such actions entail ramifications. They come with a cost.

• Trump hails 'amazing' meeting with the Chinese leader but no pact agreed
• The Chinese president and the US leader establish temporary truce as China adopts strategic patience

For the opening segment, Trump's latest entry into international relations was uneventful.

Each visit was characterized by a combination of conventional trade negotiations – arrangements made under the pressure of the president's "reciprocal" duties – and individual concessions that at moments approached the obsequious.

In the Malaysian stop, Trump secured entry to critical minerals and made headway toward completing economic agreements with regional partners. He also oversaw a agreement that should reduce border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "truce" the American president loves to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's official aircraft passed by a famous structure illuminated American colors – with a peak in golden.

Newly elected Head Takaichi described $half-trillion in Japan's financial commitments in the America and offered the US leader a offering of two hundred fifty sakura trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf club and case that belonged to the late leader, the assassinated ex-leader who bonded with the president in his initial presidency.

She also became the latest foreign leader to propose Trump for his highly-coveted Nobel Peace Prize.

Keeping pace, Korea welcomed Trump with cannons performing a honor salute and a armed forces orchestra that rendered Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the musical group tune that has become a political gathering theme.

President Lee Jae Myung held an "award event" for Trump during which he gave the American leader his state's highest medal and a copy of an historical royal headpiece.

Lunch with the Korean leader featured a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-encrusted chocolate squares. Afterward, the Koreans offered Trump premium vintage at an exclusive gathering in the president's honor with half-dozen international heads participating in the regional summit summit.

In the US, the president may be the subject of "No Kings" rallies by the public who reject his limit-pushing increases of presidential power, but during his regional swing he was treated like royalty.

And like the rulers of old, Trump visited the Korean nation seeking tribute – in the shape of $two hundred billion in financial transfers, $20bn a annually, from South Korea to the United States, to be allocated at the guidance of Trump's administration. Agreement on the details of those payments contributed to that the duty level on host nation goods to the America would drop from 25% to 15%.

The primary focus of Trump's Asian tour occurred in its final hours, nevertheless, as he met with the Chinese leader.

At that location, the influence relationship between leaders of the planet's biggest economic powers was noticeably divergent than the exchanges Trump had with his overseas colleagues in earlier stops.

Absent were all the pageantry and the spectacle. Without any service ensembles, without ceremonial troops, no carefully crafted dining selections honoring mutual national affection. Rather, the pair of counterparts and their senior advisors positioned themselves across a large pale meeting furniture in a plain military building just near the airstrip of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was possibly a demonstration of the high stakes that when Trump made contact with the Chinese leader in the southern port, he seemed