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Presidential journeys internationally have traditionally been an opportunity to display the strength of the American nation on the global scene. Donald Trump's week-long swing through eastern Asia, conversely, has been a display of the clout of the president – but also, at times, of that authority's constraints.

The president's stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the span of the first four days were an display in satisfying a sometimes volatile American president. It was an acknowledgement that the leader, with the signature of a document, could introduce tariffs and other measures that have the potential to damage the markets of export-oriented countries.

His meeting with Beijing's head Xi on Thursday, nevertheless, was a completely different scenario.

It was a session of counterparts on the international scene, where the stakes for both nations – for their financial health, for their global standing, for the prosperity of their citizens – were immense.

With Beijing, the president may wave his authority, but these moves entail ramifications. They carry a price.

• The US president praises 'impressive' talks with Xi but no agreement finalized
• The Chinese president and Trump establish brief pause as China plays longer game

For the initial phase, Trump's recent foray into world politics was successful.

Each stop was marked by a mix of standard commercial discussions – agreements made under the pressure of Trump's "equivalent" taxes – and special treatment that at points bordered on the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, Trump gained entry to essential resources and made headway toward completing commercial deals with ASEAN countries. He also oversaw a treaty that should ease frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace agreement" the American president loves to highlight.

In Japan, the president's official aircraft flew past a Tokyo Tower illuminated American colors – with a top in gilded.

Newly elected Prime Minister Takaichi outlined $550bn in Japan's financial commitments in the United States and offered the US leader a present of a quarter-thousand cherry trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf club and bag that was owned by the late leader, the assassinated ex-leader who bonded with Trump in his previous administration.

She also became the newest international head to nominate the president for his highly-coveted peace award.

Matching the effort, Korea greeted Trump with guns performing a honor salute and a armed forces orchestra that played the presidential anthem and the Village People song – the musical group tune that has turned into a Trump rally standard.

Leader Lee Jae Myung held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he presented the US president his nation's highest medal and a replica of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Noon repast with the Korean leader included a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-covered chocolate squares. Later that day, the hosts offered the president fine beverage at an private meal in Trump's recognition with half-dozen global figures present at the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference summit.

In the United States, Trump may be the focus of "Anti-Monarchy" protests by US citizens who disapprove of his limit-pushing extensions of presidential power, but during his regional swing he was received as royalty.

And like the monarchs of old, Trump visited South Korea demanding tribute – in the form of $200 billion in monetary contributions, $twenty billion a year, from South Korea to the US, to be invested at the guidance of the president's administration. Consent on the details of those contributions helped ensure that the tariff rate on host nation exports to the United States would fall from 25% to under twenty percent.

The main event of the president's Asia trip occurred in its last moments, though, as he encountered the Chinese leader.

There, the influence relationship between heads of the world's two largest economies was noticeably different than the meetings the president had with his foreign counterparts in prior visits.

Missing were all the pageantry and the display. Lacking armed forces orchestras, no protocol units, no meticulously designed dining selections honoring shared goodwill. Instead, the pair of counterparts and their top aides sat across a large pale meeting furniture in a unremarkable service structure just near the airstrip of Busan's global terminal.

It was possibly a reflection of the high stakes that when Trump exchanged greetings with Xi in the Korean city, he appeared