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Presidential journeys abroad have traditionally been an occasion to showcase the influence of the US on the international platform. The president's week-long swing through eastern Asia, conversely, has been a show of the power of the president – but also, at times, of that power's limitations.

The president's stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the initial days were an demonstration in satisfying a sometimes mercurial president. It was an recognition that Trump, with the stroke of a pen, could enact taxes and further steps that have the capacity to damage the markets of export-dependent countries.

His discussion with Beijing's head Xi Jinping on the last day, though, was something entirely different.

It was a session of counterparts on the global stage, where the consequences for each country – for their economies, for their international prestige, for the prosperity of their populations – were immense.

With the Chinese, the US leader may flick his authority, but those steps entail repercussions. They come with a toll.

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For the opening segment, the president's latest venture into global diplomacy was uneventful.

Each stop was characterized by a combination of standard economic talks – deals made under the threat of the president's "reciprocal" duties – and personal accommodations that at times approached the obsequious.

In Malaysia, Trump secured access to critical minerals and made advances toward concluding trade arrangements with ASEAN countries. He also led a treaty that should reduce border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "truce" the president enjoys to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's helicopter soared near a Tokyo Tower displayed US flag colors – with a top in Trumpian gold.

Newly elected Prime Minister the Japanese leader described $half-trillion in Japan's financial commitments in the America and gave the US leader a gift of two hundred fifty sakura trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf club and carrier that came from Shinzo Abe, the murdered ex-leader who bonded with the president in his initial presidency.

She also became the newest overseas counterpart to nominate Trump for his much-desired Nobel Peace Prize.

Not to be outdone, South Korea received the president with guns discharging a traditional greeting and a military band that played Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the band song that has turned into a political gathering standard.

President Lee held an "award event" for Trump during which he awarded the US president his country's top honor and a copy of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Noon repast with the Korean leader contained a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-encrusted baked goods. Subsequently, the South Koreans provided Trump vineyard wine at an private meal in the president's honor with half-dozen international heads present at the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference conference.

In the US, Trump may be the focus of "Anti-Authority" rallies by the public who disapprove of his boundary-testing expansions of leader's control, but during his Asian visit he was handled as royalty.

And like the rulers of history, the president arrived in South Korea demanding tribute – in the form of $200bn in cash payments, $20bn a annually, from Korea to the America, to be used at the guidance of Trump's government. Agreement on the details of those transfers contributed to that the tariff rate on Korean goods to the America would decrease from 25% to 15%.

The main event of the president's Asian tour came in its last moments, nevertheless, as he encountered Xi.

In that setting, the influence relationship between leaders of the planet's biggest economic powers was markedly different than the meetings Trump had with his international peers in earlier stops.

Absent were all the ceremony and the pageantry. Lacking military bands, without protocol units, missing carefully crafted meal plans celebrating mutual national affection. By contrast, the two leaders and their top aides positioned themselves across a large pale negotiating table in a plain armed forces facility just adjacent to the landing strip of Busan's air transport hub.

It was possibly a indication of the major consequences that when the president exchanged greetings with the Chinese leader in the Korean city, he looked