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American leader visits abroad have typically been an opportunity to display the power of the American nation on the global scene. The president's week-long swing through East Asia, by contrast, has been a show of the clout of Trump – but also, at times, of that authority's boundaries.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the span of the first four days were an display in satisfying a sometimes unpredictable American president. It was an admission that Trump, with the flick of a pen, could impose duties and other measures that have the ability to devastate the markets of trade-reliant countries.

His sit-down with Chinese leader Xi on the final day, though, was a distinct situation.

It was a session of peers on the international scene, where the risks for each country – for their financial health, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their citizens – were immense.

With the Chinese, the president may use his authority, but these moves involve ramifications. They come with a toll.

• Trump describes 'amazing' encounter with the Chinese leader but no pact finalized
• Xi and Trump establish short-term ceasefire as Beijing adopts strategic patience

For the first four days, the president's most recent entry into international relations was successful.

Each visit was marked by a combination of traditional economic talks – arrangements made under the shadow of Trump's "mutual" taxes – and special treatment that at moments bordered on the deferential.

In the Malaysian stop, the president secured access to key materials and made advances toward completing commercial deals with south-east Asian nations. He also oversaw a pact that should alleviate border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "truce" the president loves to tout.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's helicopter flew past a Tokyo Tower displayed US flag colors – with a peak in Trumpian gold.

Newly elected Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi detailed $550bn in Japan's financial commitments in the America and presented the American president a present of a quarter-thousand sakura trees for America's semiquincentennial, and a sports gear and bag that came from former Prime Minister Abe, the killed past head who connected with Trump in his first term.

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

Not to be outdone, South Korea greeted the president with guns firing a 21-gun salute and a armed forces orchestra that played Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the band song that has become a presidential event anthem.

Head the Korean president held an "honour ceremony" for the US leader during which he awarded the US president his nation's highest medal and a copy of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Noon repast with Lee contained a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gold-encrusted brownies. Afterward, the Koreans provided the president premium vintage at an intimate dinner in Trump's recognition with six international heads attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

In the America, the president may be the subject of "Anti-Authority" protests by the public who disapprove of his authority-expanding extensions of leader's control, but during his East Asia swing he was received as nobility.

And like the rulers of ancient times, Trump arrived in Korea demanding payment – in the guise of $200 billion in cash payments, $20bn a year, from Korea to the US, to be invested at the guidance of the president's government. Agreement on the terms of those contributions contributed to that the duty level on Korean products to the US would drop from 25% to under twenty percent.

The primary focus of the president's Asia trip took place in its last moments, though, as he sat down with the Chinese leader.

At that location, the influence relationship between heads of the world's two largest economies was decidedly different than the interactions Trump had with his international peers in earlier stops.

Not present were typical pageantry and the pageantry. Without any service ensembles, absent ceremonial troops, without carefully crafted dining selections honoring mutual national affection. Instead, the two leaders and their top aides positioned themselves across a large pale meeting furniture in a unremarkable military building just near the airstrip of Busan's air transport hub.

It was possibly a reflection of the high stakes that when the president shook hands with the Chinese leader in the southern port, he appeared