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US presidential trips abroad have traditionally been an opportunity to display the strength of the American nation on the global scene. Donald Trump's week-long swing through East Asia, by contrast, has been a show of the clout of the president – but also, at points, of that authority's boundaries.

The president's stops in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the course of the initial days were an exercise in pleasing a at times unpredictable US leader. It was an acknowledgement that the leader, with the stroke of a hand, could introduce tariffs and other measures that have the potential to damage the financial systems of trade-reliant countries.

His sit-down with Beijing's head Xi on the last day, nevertheless, was a distinct situation.

It was a encounter of peers on the world platform, where the consequences for both nations – for their economies, for their international prestige, for the well-being of their citizens – were enormous.

With Beijing, the US leader may wave his power, but those steps entail ramifications. They come with a toll.

• The US president hails 'impressive' meeting with Xi but no trade deal finalized
• Xi and Trump establish short-term ceasefire as Beijing adopts strategic patience

For the opening segment, the president's recent entry into international relations was smooth sailing.

Each destination was punctuated by a mix of standard trade negotiations – agreements made under the pressure of the president's "mutual" taxes – and special treatment that at moments verged on the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, Trump gained rights to key materials and made progress toward finalizing economic agreements with ASEAN countries. He also presided over a treaty that should reduce frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace agreement" the US leader enjoys to highlight.

In Japan, Trump's Marine One flew past a famous structure illuminated American colors – with a top in gilded.

Freshly appointed Prime Minister Takaichi detailed $half-trillion in Tokyo's funding in the United States and offered the president a offering of 250 cherry trees for the United States' semiquincentennial, and a golf club and case that came from the late leader, the killed former prime minister who bonded with Trump in his previous administration.

She also became the latest overseas counterpart to propose the president for his highly-coveted peace award.

Keeping pace, Korea received the president with guns discharging a traditional greeting and a armed forces orchestra that played Hail to the Chief and the classic tune – the musical group tune that has become a political gathering anthem.

Leader Lee Jae Myung held an "recognition ritual" for the US leader during which he presented the US president his country's top honor and a model of an historical royal headpiece.

Noon repast with Lee featured a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gilded chocolate squares. Later that day, the South Koreans provided the president premium vintage at an private meal in Trump's honour with six international heads present at the APEC summit.

In the United States, Trump may be the focus of "Anti-Authority" protests by Americans who reject his authority-expanding extensions of executive authority, but during his regional tour he was handled as monarchy.

And like the monarchs of old, Trump visited South Korea requesting contribution – in the guise of $200bn in monetary contributions, $20 billion a annually, from Korea to the United States, to be used at the discretion of Trump's administration. Consent on the terms of those contributions assisted in that the tariff rate on South Korean exports to the United States would fall from 25% to 15%.

The central moment of Trump's Asia trip came in its last moments, nevertheless, as he met with Xi.

At that location, the authority balance between heads of the global top two markets was noticeably different than the meetings the president had with his international peers in previous days.

Absent were typical pomp and the spectacle. Lacking armed forces orchestras, no honour guards, missing thoughtfully prepared dining selections marking mutual national affection. By contrast, the two leaders and their top aides positioned themselves across a long white negotiating table in a plain armed forces facility just adjacent to the landing strip of the city of Busan's international airport.

It was perhaps a reflection of the significant risks that when the president shook hands with the Chinese leader in Busan, he seemed