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Presidential journeys internationally have historically been an chance to showcase the power of the US on the international platform. The president's multi-day trip through East Asia, by contrast, has been a demonstration of the power of the leader – but also, at points, of that influence's boundaries.

The president's stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the span of the initial days were an demonstration in pleasing a occasionally mercurial American president. It was an recognition that the leader, with the signature of a pen, could enact taxes and additional actions that have the potential to damage the economies of export-oriented nations.

His meeting with Chinese leader Xi on the last day, however, was a completely different scenario.

It was a encounter of equals on the international scene, where the risks for the two powers – for their economies, for their international prestige, for the well-being of their populations – were significant.

With the Chinese, the president may use his authority, but those steps entail ramifications. They come with a toll.

• Trump hails 'amazing' encounter with the Chinese leader but no pact reached
• The Chinese president and the US leader find temporary truce as China pursues extended strategy

For the initial phase, Trump's latest entry into international relations was successful.

Each visit was punctuated by a mix of standard economic talks – agreements made under the threat of the president's "equivalent" tariffs – and individual concessions that at points bordered on the deferential.

In Malaysia, the president obtained rights to essential resources and made progress toward concluding commercial deals with regional partners. He also led a treaty that should alleviate frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace deal" the American president loves to highlight.

In Japan, the president's helicopter soared near a famous structure displayed American colors – with a top in Trumpian gold.

Recently chosen Head Sanai Takaichi described $550 billion in Japanese investments in the US and gave the US leader a offering of 250 flowering trees for the United States' 250th anniversary, and a golf equipment and bag that was owned by former Prime Minister Abe, the murdered ex-leader who developed ties with Trump in his previous administration.

She also became the latest international head to nominate Trump for his highly-coveted peace award.

Matching the effort, Korea welcomed Trump with cannons firing a honor salute and a service ensemble that rendered Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the musical group song that has turned into a presidential event anthem.

Head Lee Jae Myung held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he awarded the American leader his nation's highest medal and a replica of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Midday meal with the Korean leader contained a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gilded chocolate squares. Afterward, the Koreans served the president vineyard wine at an intimate dinner in the president's recognition with six international heads present at the regional summit conference.

In the US, Trump may be the subject of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by the public who reject his limit-pushing increases of presidential power, but during his East Asia visit he was handled as nobility.

And like the kings of ancient times, Trump visited Korea demanding contribution – in the guise of $200 billion in financial transfers, $20bn a year, from South Korea to the US, to be allocated at the discretion of Trump's leadership. Agreement on the conditions of those contributions helped ensure that the tax percentage on South Korean products to the US would drop from 25% to under twenty percent.

The central moment of the president's regional visit occurred in its last moments, however, as he encountered Xi.

In that setting, the influence relationship between heads of the planet's biggest economic powers was decidedly divergent than the exchanges Trump had with his foreign counterparts in prior visits.

Missing were all the pageantry and the display. Without any military bands, without honour guards, no carefully crafted dining selections honoring shared goodwill. Instead, the two leaders and their top aides were seated across a long white discussion surface in a nondescript military building just off the runway of Busan's air transport hub.

It was likely a demonstration of the major consequences that when Trump shook hands with Xi in Busan, he looked