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Presidential journeys abroad have traditionally been an chance to display the influence of the United States on the global scene. Donald Trump's multi-day swing through Asian nations, by contrast, has been a show of the authority of the leader – but also, at points, of that authority's boundaries.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the initial days were an display in satisfying a sometimes mercurial American president. It was an recognition that the president, with the signature of a document, could impose taxes and additional actions that have the ability to harm the financial systems of export-oriented countries.

His meeting with Beijing's head Xi on Thursday, nevertheless, was a distinct situation.

It was a meeting of counterparts on the international scene, where the stakes for the two powers – for their economies, for their international prestige, for the well-being of their populations – were significant.

With China, the US leader may use his pen, but those steps involve ramifications. They carry a toll.

• Trump hails 'remarkable' meeting with Xi but no pact agreed
• Xi and Trump establish short-term ceasefire as Beijing plays longer game

For the initial phase, the president's latest foray into international relations was uneventful.

Each destination was punctuated by a combination of traditional trade negotiations – deals made under the shadow of the president's "mutual" taxes – and personal accommodations that at points approached the subservient.

In Malaysia, the president secured entry to key materials and made headway toward completing commercial deals with ASEAN countries. He also presided over a agreement that should ease border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "truce" the president prefers to highlight.

In Japan, Trump's helicopter soared near a landmark tower displayed US flag colors – with a top in Trumpian gold.

Newly elected Head the Japanese leader outlined $half-trillion in Japanese investments in the America and gave the American president a present of a quarter-thousand sakura trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf equipment and bag that was owned by Shinzo Abe, the killed ex-leader who connected with Trump in his first term.

She also became the newest foreign leader to suggest Trump for his long-sought Nobel Peace Prize.

Not to be outdone, Korea greeted Trump with cannons discharging a traditional greeting and a service ensemble that played the leader's song and the Village People song – the Village People song that has become a Trump rally anthem.

President the Korean president held an "award event" for Trump during which he presented the American leader his nation's top honor and a model of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Lunch with the Korean leader included a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded baked goods. Subsequently, the hosts provided the president vineyard wine at an private meal in Trump's honor with multiple world leaders present at the regional summit meeting.

In the America, the president may be the subject of "Anti-Monarchy" rallies by the public who reject his limit-pushing increases of executive authority, but during his Asian swing he was received as monarchy.

And like the monarchs of old, Trump came to South Korea requesting contribution – in the shape of $200 billion in financial transfers, $twenty billion a year, from South Korea to the America, to be allocated at the direction of the president's leadership. Approval on the conditions of those transfers helped ensure that the tariff rate on Korean exports to the United States would drop from a quarter to 15%.

The central moment of Trump's Asian tour occurred in its concluding phase, however, as he met with the Chinese leader.

In that setting, the authority balance between leaders of the global top two markets was noticeably distinct than the exchanges the president had with his international peers in earlier stops.

Not present were all the ceremony and the spectacle. Without any armed forces orchestras, without honour guards, missing carefully crafted meal plans celebrating bilateral friendship. Instead, the both heads and their key staff were seated across a long white meeting furniture in a plain service structure just adjacent to the landing strip of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was likely a reflection of the significant risks that when the president exchanged greetings with Xi in Busan, he looked