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US presidential trips internationally have historically been an opportunity to display the influence of the American nation on the global scene. Trump's week-long swing through eastern Asia, by contrast, has been a display of the clout of Trump – but also, at points, of that authority's limitations.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the opening phase were an demonstration in catering to a at times volatile American president. It was an recognition that the leader, with the stroke of a hand, could impose taxes and additional actions that have the ability to harm the economies of trade-reliant states.

His discussion with China's president Xi on the last day, nevertheless, was something entirely different.

It was a meeting of counterparts on the international scene, where the consequences for the two powers – for their economies, for their international prestige, for the welfare of their people – were significant.

With China, the president may use his authority, but these moves entail ramifications. They carry a toll.

• The US president describes 'impressive' meeting with the Chinese leader but no pact reached
• The Chinese president and the US leader find brief pause as Beijing plays longer game

For the first four days, the president's recent venture into world politics was successful.

Each destination was punctuated by a blend of conventional commercial discussions – agreements made under the shadow of the president's "equivalent" tariffs – and special treatment that at times bordered on the obsequious.

In Malaysia, Trump gained entry to critical minerals and made headway toward concluding trade arrangements with ASEAN countries. He also oversaw a agreement that should ease frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace agreement" the president enjoys to tout.

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

Recently chosen Head Takaichi outlined $550bn in Tokyo's funding in the America and presented the president a gift of 250 sakura trees for America's semiquincentennial, and a sports gear and case that was owned by former Prime Minister Abe, the murdered past head who developed ties with the president in his previous administration.

She also became the most recent international head to nominate Trump for his much-desired international honor.

Matching the effort, Korea welcomed Trump with cannons firing a honor salute and a military band that performed Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the musical group song that has turned into a Trump rally anthem.

Head the Korean president held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he gave the president his country's premier award and a copy of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Lunch with the Korean leader featured a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gold-encrusted baked goods. Later that day, the Koreans served Trump fine beverage at an intimate dinner in the president's honour with six international heads present at the APEC meeting.

In the US, Trump may be the focus of "No Kings" protests by US citizens who oppose his limit-pushing expansions of presidential power, but during his East Asia swing he was received as monarchy.

And like the rulers of old, the president came to Korea requesting contribution – in the form of $two hundred billion in monetary contributions, $twenty billion a year, from the host nation to the United States, to be invested at the direction of Trump's administration. Agreement on the details of those transfers helped ensure that the tariff rate on Korean products to the United States would drop from twenty-five percent to fifteen percent.

The primary focus of the president's Asia trip took place in its concluding phase, nevertheless, as he sat down with the Chinese leader.

In that setting, the authority balance between heads of the global top two markets was markedly divergent than the interactions the president had with his international peers in previous days.

Not present were the usual pageantry and the display. Lacking armed forces orchestras, without honour guards, no meticulously designed meal plans celebrating shared goodwill. By contrast, the both heads and their key staff positioned themselves across a large pale discussion surface in a nondescript military building just off the runway of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was perhaps a reflection of the high stakes that when the president made contact with the Chinese leader in Busan, he looked