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Presidential journeys internationally have traditionally been an chance to showcase the power of the United States on the international platform. The president's week-long swing through East Asia, by contrast, has been a demonstration of the authority of the president – but also, at points, of that authority's boundaries.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the course of the first four days were an display in catering to a sometimes volatile US leader. It was an admission that the leader, with the signature of a document, could impose tariffs and other measures that have the capacity to devastate the economies of export-dependent countries.

His sit-down with Beijing's head Xi on the final day, nevertheless, was something entirely different.

It was a session of peers on the world platform, where the stakes for each country – for their financial health, for their international prestige, for the prosperity of their populations – were immense.

With the Chinese, Trump may use his power, but such actions involve repercussions. They carry a cost.

• The US president hails 'amazing' encounter with Xi but no agreement finalized
• The Chinese president and the US leader reach short-term ceasefire as China adopts strategic patience

For the initial phase, the president's most recent venture into international relations was uneventful.

Each destination was characterized by a combination of traditional commercial discussions – agreements made under the threat of the president's "equivalent" taxes – and individual concessions that at times approached the obsequious.

In Malaysia, Trump obtained rights to key materials and made advances toward finalizing economic agreements with south-east Asian nations. He also oversaw a pact that should alleviate territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace agreement" the American president prefers to tout.

In Japan, the president's Marine One flew past a famous structure illuminated US flag colors – with a top in golden.

Recently chosen Leader the Japanese leader described $550bn in Japan's financial commitments in the United States and presented the US leader a offering of two hundred fifty cherry trees for America's 250th birthday, and a golf equipment and carrier that came from Shinzo Abe, the murdered past head who developed ties with the president in his first term.

She also became the most recent international head to suggest the president for his long-sought international honor.

Matching the effort, Korea greeted the president with guns firing a honor salute and a armed forces orchestra that rendered the leader's song and the Village People song – the Village People song that has become a Trump rally anthem.

Leader Lee held an "award event" for the US leader during which he presented the American leader his nation's premier award and a model of an historical royal headpiece.

Noon repast with the Korean leader included a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gilded brownies. Later that day, the Koreans provided Trump premium vintage at an private meal in Trump's honor with six world leaders present at the regional summit meeting.

In the America, the president may be the target of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by US citizens who disapprove of his authority-expanding expansions of presidential power, but during his East Asia tour he was handled as monarchy.

And like the monarchs of old, Trump visited Korea seeking tribute – in the guise of $two hundred billion in financial transfers, $20bn a year, from the host nation to the US, to be invested at the guidance of Trump's administration. Consent on the details of those contributions contributed to that the duty level on Korean products to the US would decrease from a quarter to 15%.

The primary focus of the president's regional visit took place in its final hours, however, as he met with Xi.

At that location, the power dynamic between leaders of the global top two markets was decidedly distinct than the meetings the president had with his overseas colleagues in previous days.

Missing were all the pageantry and the display. Without any military bands, absent protocol units, missing carefully crafted dining selections marking mutual national affection. Instead, the both heads and their top aides sat across a extended light-colored discussion surface in a unremarkable military building just near the airstrip of the southern port's international airport.

It was perhaps a indication of the high stakes that when the president exchanged greetings with the Chinese leader in the Korean city, he seemed