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Presidential journeys overseas have traditionally been an occasion to showcase the strength of the United States on the international platform. Donald Trump's multi-day swing through Asian nations, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the clout of Trump – but also, at times, of that influence's boundaries.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the initial days were an demonstration in pleasing a occasionally volatile US leader. It was an admission that the president, with the stroke of a document, could introduce duties and other measures that have the capacity to harm the markets of export-oriented nations.

His meeting with Chinese leader Xi on Thursday, nevertheless, was something entirely different.

It was a meeting of peers on the global stage, where the consequences for both nations – for their markets, for their international prestige, for the well-being of their citizens – were enormous.

With the Chinese, the president may wave his authority, but those steps entail ramifications. They carry a toll.

• Trump describes 'amazing' meeting with Xi but no agreement agreed
• The Chinese president and Trump find temporary truce as Beijing plays longer game

For the opening segment, the president's latest foray into global diplomacy was successful.

Each stop was characterized by a mix of conventional trade negotiations – agreements made under the threat of the president's "equivalent" tariffs – and special treatment that at points approached the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, the president secured rights to critical minerals and made headway toward completing commercial deals with south-east Asian nations. He also oversaw a agreement that should alleviate border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace deal" the president enjoys to promote.

In Japan, Trump's Marine One passed by a landmark tower lit US flag colors – with a peak in golden.

Newly elected Head Takaichi described $550 billion in Tokyo's funding in the America and offered the president a present of two hundred fifty sakura trees for America's semiquincentennial, and a golf club and carrier that was owned by Shinzo Abe, the assassinated past head who connected with Trump in his first term.

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

Matching the effort, South Korea greeted the president with artillery discharging a honor salute and a military band that rendered the leader's song and the classic tune – the Village People anthem that has become a presidential event standard.

Leader Lee held an "award event" for Trump during which he presented the president his state's highest medal and a model of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Noon repast with the Korean leader included a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded chocolate squares. Later that day, the Koreans offered the president fine beverage at an exclusive gathering in the president's recognition with six world leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

In the United States, Trump may be the target of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by US citizens who reject his limit-pushing increases of presidential power, but during his Asian tour he was treated like royalty.

And like the kings of ancient times, the president visited South Korea demanding payment – in the guise of $200bn in financial transfers, $20bn a year, from the host nation to the US, to be invested at the direction of the president's administration. Agreement on the terms of those contributions assisted in that the duty level on Korean goods to the America would decrease from 25% to fifteen percent.

The primary focus of Trump's regional visit came in its final hours, however, as he sat down with Xi.

In that setting, the authority balance between counterparts of the world's two largest economies was markedly divergent than the interactions the president had with his overseas colleagues in previous days.

Missing were the usual pomp and the display. Lacking military bands, absent protocol units, without carefully crafted dining selections celebrating mutual national affection. By contrast, the two leaders and their top aides sat across a extended light-colored meeting furniture in a unremarkable service structure just adjacent to the landing strip of Busan's air transport hub.

It was possibly a demonstration of the high stakes that when Trump exchanged greetings with Xi in Busan, he looked