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American leader visits internationally have typically been an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the American nation on the international platform. Trump's week-long swing through eastern Asia, by contrast, has been a demonstration of the clout of the president – but also, at points, of that influence's boundaries.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the span of the initial days were an demonstration in pleasing a sometimes unpredictable American president. It was an recognition that Trump, with the stroke of a document, could introduce tariffs and other measures that have the potential to harm the economies of export-oriented countries.

His sit-down with China's president Xi Jinping on the final day, though, was a completely different scenario.

It was a encounter of counterparts on the global stage, where the consequences for the two powers – for their economies, for their international prestige, for the welfare of their populations – were immense.

With the Chinese, Trump may flick his pen, but these moves come with consequences. They carry a price.

• The US president describes 'remarkable' encounter with Xi but no trade deal agreed
• Xi and the US leader reach short-term ceasefire as China pursues extended strategy

For the opening segment, Trump's most recent entry into world politics was smooth sailing.

Each visit was marked by a combination of traditional trade negotiations – agreements made under the shadow of Trump's "reciprocal" taxes – and special treatment that at points approached the deferential.

In the Malaysian stop, the president gained access to essential resources and made headway toward finalizing economic agreements with regional partners. He also led a treaty that should ease border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "truce" the American president enjoys to tout.

In Japan, Trump's Marine One passed by a landmark tower lit red, white and blue – with a top in golden.

Newly elected Head Takaichi detailed $550 billion in Tokyo's funding in the United States and offered the president a offering of a quarter-thousand cherry trees for America's 250th birthday, and a sports gear and case that belonged to the late leader, the assassinated past head who bonded with Trump in his first term.

She also became the most recent international head to propose the president for his much-desired peace award.

Matching the effort, Korea greeted Trump with cannons discharging a honor salute and a armed forces orchestra that rendered Hail to the Chief and the Village People song – the musical group tune that has evolved into a political gathering standard.

President Lee held an "honour ceremony" for Trump during which he presented the US president his country's highest medal and a replica of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Noon repast with the Korean leader included a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gilded baked goods. Subsequently, the hosts provided the president vineyard wine at an private meal in the president's honour with six international heads attending the APEC summit.

In the United States, the president may be the subject of "No Kings" rallies by US citizens who disapprove of his boundary-testing increases of leader's control, but during his regional visit he was treated like monarchy.

And like the monarchs of old, Trump came to South Korea requesting tribute – in the shape of $200bn in monetary contributions, $20 billion a year, from South Korea to the US, to be invested at the direction of Trump's administration. Consent on the conditions of those transfers assisted in that the tax percentage on South Korean exports to the United States would drop from twenty-five percent to under twenty percent.

The central moment of the president's Asian tour occurred in its final hours, though, as he sat down with Xi.

At that location, the power dynamic between leaders of the world's two largest economies was markedly divergent than the interactions Trump had with his overseas colleagues in prior visits.

Absent were all the pomp and the spectacle. Lacking service ensembles, absent honour guards, without carefully crafted dining selections marking shared goodwill. Instead, the two leaders and their key staff positioned themselves across a large pale negotiating table in a plain armed forces facility just adjacent to the landing strip of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was possibly a indication of the major consequences that when Trump shook hands with the Chinese leader in Busan, he looked