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American leader visits abroad have historically been an opportunity to display the power of the United States on the world stage. Trump's multi-day swing through eastern Asia, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the power of Trump – but also, at times, of that power's boundaries.

The president's stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the span of the first four days were an demonstration in pleasing a sometimes volatile American president. It was an recognition that the leader, with the flick of a document, could introduce taxes and further steps that have the potential to damage the financial systems of export-dependent states.

His discussion with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday, though, was a completely different scenario.

It was a session of counterparts on the global stage, where the risks for the two powers – for their economies, for their global standing, for the welfare of their people – were significant.

With Beijing, Trump may flick his power, but these moves come with repercussions. They involve a cost.

• Trump praises 'amazing' meeting with the Chinese leader but no agreement finalized
• The Chinese president and the US leader reach temporary truce as Beijing plays longer game

For the first four days, the president's most recent entry into global diplomacy was smooth sailing.

Each stop was marked by a combination of conventional economic talks – arrangements made under the threat of the president's "equivalent" tariffs – and personal accommodations that at points bordered on the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, the president gained entry to essential resources and made progress toward finalizing commercial deals with regional partners. He also oversaw a treaty that should ease border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace agreement" the American president loves to promote.

In the Japanese leg, the president's Marine One passed by a Tokyo Tower displayed US flag colors – with a summit in Trumpian gold.

Newly elected Leader the Japanese leader described $550bn in Japan's financial commitments in the US and offered the president a gift of 250 cherry trees for America's semiquincentennial, and a sports gear and case that belonged to the late leader, the killed former prime minister who developed ties with Trump in his first term.

She also became the latest overseas counterpart to nominate Trump for his much-desired peace award.

Not to be outdone, the Korean government greeted Trump with cannons discharging a honor salute and a armed forces orchestra that performed Hail to the Chief and the Village People song – the band tune that has become a political gathering anthem.

President Lee held an "recognition ritual" for the US leader during which he awarded the American leader his country's highest medal and a model of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Noon repast with the Korean leader featured a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gilded baked goods. Afterward, the South Koreans provided Trump vineyard wine at an private meal in the president's honour with half-dozen global figures present at the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference conference.

In the US, Trump may be the target of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by Americans who disapprove of his boundary-testing expansions of presidential power, but during his regional visit he was handled as royalty.

And like the rulers of history, Trump arrived in the Korean nation requesting tribute – in the form of $200 billion in financial transfers, $20 billion a annually, from Korea to the US, to be used at the direction of Trump's government. Approval on the details of those contributions assisted in that the duty level on South Korean products to the America would decrease from 25% to under twenty percent.

The main event of the president's regional visit came in its final hours, nevertheless, as he encountered the Chinese leader.

At that location, the influence relationship between leaders of the world's two largest economies was markedly divergent than the exchanges Trump had with his overseas colleagues in prior visits.

Not present were the usual ceremony and the pageantry. Without any armed forces orchestras, absent honour guards, missing thoughtfully prepared meal plans honoring bilateral friendship. Rather, the two leaders and their top aides positioned themselves across a long white negotiating table in a unremarkable military building just adjacent to the landing strip of Busan's air transport hub.

It was possibly a demonstration of the major consequences that when the president made contact with Xi in the Korean city, he looked