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Presidential journeys abroad have traditionally been an chance to demonstrate the power of the US on the global scene. The president's week-long trip through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the clout of the leader – but also, at moments, of that authority's constraints.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the course of the opening phase were an exercise in satisfying a at times volatile American president. It was an acknowledgement that Trump, with the signature of a pen, could introduce duties and further steps that have the capacity to devastate the markets of export-dependent countries.

His sit-down with Chinese leader Xi on the last day, nevertheless, was a completely different scenario.

It was a encounter of peers on the global stage, where the consequences for the two powers – for their economies, for their international prestige, for the well-being of their people – were immense.

With the Chinese, Trump may wave his power, but these moves involve repercussions. They involve a price.

• The US president describes 'remarkable' meeting with the Chinese leader but no agreement finalized
• The Chinese president and Trump find temporary truce as China pursues extended strategy

For the opening segment, the president's recent venture into global diplomacy was successful.

Each visit was punctuated by a mix of standard trade negotiations – deals made under the pressure of Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs – and individual concessions that at points bordered on the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, Trump obtained access to key materials and made progress toward concluding economic agreements with regional partners. He also oversaw a pact that should ease territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace agreement" the US leader enjoys to highlight.

In Japan, Trump's official aircraft passed by a famous structure lit US flag colors – with a peak in gilded.

Freshly appointed Prime Minister Takaichi outlined $550bn in Tokyo's funding in the America and offered the US leader a gift of two hundred fifty cherry trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf equipment and carrier that belonged to the late leader, the assassinated former prime minister who developed ties with Trump in his previous administration.

She also became the latest foreign leader to propose Trump for his much-desired Nobel Peace Prize.

Matching the effort, the Korean government welcomed the president with guns firing a 21-gun salute and a military band that performed the leader's song and YMCA – the band song that has become a political gathering standard.

Leader Lee Jae Myung held an "honour ceremony" for Trump during which he awarded the president his state's premier award and a copy of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Lunch with the Korean leader included a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded baked goods. Afterward, the hosts offered Trump premium vintage at an intimate dinner in Trump's honor with six global figures attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference summit.

In the United States, Trump may be the target of "Anti-Monarchy" protests by Americans who oppose his authority-expanding increases of leader's control, but during his East Asia visit he was treated like nobility.

And like the monarchs of old, the president visited the Korean nation seeking contribution – in the form of $200bn in monetary contributions, $20bn a annually, from the host nation to the United States, to be allocated at the discretion of Trump's government. Approval on the details of those contributions contributed to that the duty level on host nation goods to the America would fall from a quarter to fifteen percent.

The primary focus of the president's regional visit came in its final hours, though, as he met with Xi.

In that setting, the influence relationship between counterparts of the world's two largest economies was decidedly different than the interactions Trump had with his international peers in previous days.

Absent were typical pomp and the pageantry. Without any armed forces orchestras, no honour guards, missing meticulously designed dining selections celebrating mutual national affection. By contrast, the pair of counterparts and their senior advisors were seated across a large pale discussion surface in a plain military building just adjacent to the landing strip of the city of Busan's international airport.

It was likely a reflection of the major consequences that when Trump exchanged greetings with Xi in Busan, he looked