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Presidential journeys overseas have typically been an opportunity to display the influence of the US on the international platform. Trump's week-long tour through eastern Asia, by contrast, has been a display of the power of Trump – but also, at moments, of that authority's limitations.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the span of the opening phase were an exercise in pleasing a at times mercurial US leader. It was an acknowledgement that Trump, with the signature of a hand, could introduce taxes and further steps that have the potential to devastate the economies of export-oriented nations.

His discussion with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday, nevertheless, was a completely different scenario.

It was a meeting of counterparts on the international scene, where the consequences for each country – for their economies, for their global standing, for the welfare of their populations – were enormous.

With the Chinese, Trump may flick his authority, but such actions entail consequences. They come with a cost.

• The US president describes 'remarkable' encounter with the Chinese leader but no pact agreed
• The Chinese president and the US leader establish short-term ceasefire as China adopts strategic patience

For the first four days, the president's most recent foray into international relations was successful.

Each stop was characterized by a mix of traditional trade negotiations – deals made under the shadow of Trump's "mutual" duties – and personal accommodations that at points approached the obsequious.

In Malaysia, Trump secured entry to essential resources and made progress toward finalizing trade arrangements with ASEAN countries. He also presided over a pact that should reduce border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace deal" the American president loves to promote.

In the Japanese leg, the president's official aircraft soared near a Tokyo Tower displayed American colors – with a summit in Trumpian gold.

Recently chosen Head the Japanese leader detailed $half-trillion in Tokyo's funding in the US and gave the American president a gift of two hundred fifty cherry trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf club and case that belonged to the late leader, the assassinated past head who connected with the president in his initial presidency.

She also became the most recent international head to propose Trump for his much-desired Nobel Peace Prize.

Not to be outdone, Korea greeted the president with guns firing a traditional greeting and a armed forces orchestra that played the presidential anthem and YMCA – the band song that has evolved into a Trump rally theme.

Head Lee held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he gave the president his state's highest medal and a copy of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Noon repast with the Korean leader featured a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-encrusted baked goods. Subsequently, the Koreans provided the president vineyard wine at an intimate dinner in Trump's recognition with half-dozen world leaders participating in the regional summit conference.

In the US, Trump may be the target of "Anti-Authority" rallies by US citizens who disapprove of his boundary-testing extensions of executive authority, but during his regional swing he was treated like monarchy.

And like the kings of history, the president visited the Korean nation seeking tribute – in the form of $200bn in monetary contributions, $20bn a per year, from Korea to the US, to be invested at the discretion of Trump's leadership. Agreement on the conditions of those contributions contributed to that the tariff rate on South Korean products to the United States would fall from a quarter to fifteen percent.

The central moment of Trump's regional visit occurred in its last moments, though, as he sat down with the Chinese leader.

There, the authority balance between leaders of the global top two markets was markedly divergent than the meetings Trump had with his foreign counterparts in earlier stops.

Not present were typical pageantry and the display. Lacking armed forces orchestras, no protocol units, missing meticulously designed meal plans honoring shared goodwill. Instead, the pair of counterparts and their key staff sat across a large pale discussion surface in a nondescript military building just near the airstrip of the city of Busan's air transport hub.

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