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US presidential trips internationally have typically been an opportunity to demonstrate the power of the American nation on the world stage. Trump's five-day trip through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the clout of the president – but also, at points, of that authority's boundaries.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the course of the first four days were an demonstration in satisfying a occasionally unpredictable American president. It was an recognition that the leader, with the stroke of a document, could introduce tariffs and additional actions that have the ability to harm the economies of trade-reliant nations.

His sit-down with China's president Xi on the final day, though, was a completely different scenario.

It was a session of equals on the global stage, where the stakes for each country – for their economies, for their international prestige, for the prosperity of their people – were significant.

With the Chinese, the US leader may wave his pen, but these moves come with ramifications. They come with a cost.

• The US president describes 'remarkable' meeting with the Chinese leader but no agreement finalized
• The Chinese president and the US leader find short-term ceasefire as China pursues extended strategy

For the opening segment, Trump's most recent foray into world politics was smooth sailing.

Each stop was marked by a combination of traditional commercial discussions – arrangements made under the shadow of Trump's "equivalent" taxes – and personal accommodations that at times verged on the deferential.

In the Malaysian stop, Trump secured rights to key materials and made progress toward finalizing commercial deals with ASEAN countries. He also led a treaty that should ease frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace deal" the US leader prefers to tout.

In the Japanese leg, the president's official aircraft flew past a famous structure lit American colors – with a peak in Trumpian gold.

Freshly appointed Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi detailed $550 billion in Japanese investments in the America and presented the president a present of 250 cherry trees for the United States' semiquincentennial, and a golf equipment and carrier that was owned by Shinzo Abe, the assassinated ex-leader who developed ties with the president in his initial presidency.

She also became the most recent overseas counterpart to suggest the president for his much-desired international honor.

Not to be outdone, South Korea welcomed the president with guns discharging a 21-gun salute and a armed forces orchestra that played the leader's song and YMCA – the musical group anthem that has turned into a Trump rally standard.

Head Lee held an "honour ceremony" for the US leader during which he awarded the US president his state's highest medal and a copy of an historical royal headpiece.

Noon repast with Lee contained a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gilded baked goods. Later that day, the hosts provided the president premium vintage at an exclusive gathering in the president's recognition with multiple global figures present at the APEC summit.

In the United States, the president may be the focus of "Anti-Authority" rallies by US citizens who disapprove of his limit-pushing extensions of executive authority, but during his Asian tour he was handled as royalty.

And like the monarchs of old, Trump came to Korea requesting tribute – in the form of $200 billion in monetary contributions, $20bn a per year, from South Korea to the US, to be invested at the discretion of Trump's leadership. Consent on the terms of those transfers contributed to that the duty level on South Korean products to the America would fall from 25% to fifteen percent.

The central moment of the president's Asia trip took place in its last moments, however, as he sat down with the Chinese leader.

In that setting, the power dynamic between heads of the global top two markets was decidedly distinct than the exchanges the president had with his overseas colleagues in prior visits.

Missing were all the ceremony and the spectacle. Lacking military bands, absent protocol units, without carefully crafted menus honoring mutual national affection. Instead, the pair of counterparts and their key staff positioned themselves across a extended light-colored discussion surface in a plain military building just adjacent to the landing strip of the city of Busan's international airport.

It was perhaps a indication of the significant risks that when Trump shook hands with Xi in the southern port, he appeared