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US presidential trips abroad have typically been an chance to demonstrate the influence of the US on the international platform. The president's multi-day trip through East Asia, conversely, has been a demonstration of the clout of the leader – but also, at times, of that power's boundaries.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the first four days were an exercise in pleasing a at times volatile president. It was an acknowledgement that the president, with the flick of a pen, could introduce taxes and additional actions that have the capacity to devastate the economies of export-dependent states.

His meeting with Beijing's head Xi Jinping on Thursday, however, was something entirely different.

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

With the Chinese, the president may flick his pen, but these moves come with ramifications. They involve a price.

• Trump hails 'remarkable' meeting with Xi but no pact reached
• Xi and the US leader reach temporary truce as China plays longer game

For the initial phase, the president's latest entry into global diplomacy was successful.

Each destination was punctuated by a mix of traditional economic talks – agreements made under the threat of the president's "equivalent" duties – and personal accommodations that at times approached the obsequious.

In the Malaysian stop, Trump gained access to critical minerals and made advances toward concluding commercial deals with ASEAN countries. He also oversaw a treaty that should alleviate frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "peace deal" the president loves to tout.

In the Japanese leg, the president's Marine One passed by a landmark tower lit American colors – with a summit in golden.

Recently chosen Prime Minister Takaichi outlined $550 billion in Japanese investments in the US and gave the US leader a offering of a quarter-thousand cherry trees for the United States' 250th anniversary, and a golf equipment and carrier that came from Shinzo Abe, the killed past head who connected with Trump in his previous administration.

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

Not to be outdone, Korea welcomed Trump with cannons firing a traditional greeting and a military band that performed Hail to the Chief and the classic tune – the band anthem that has turned into a political gathering theme.

Leader Lee held an "honour ceremony" for Trump during which he gave the president his country's highest medal and a model of an historical royal headpiece.

Noon repast with the Korean leader contained a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gilded chocolate squares. Later that day, the hosts provided the president premium vintage at an exclusive gathering in the president's honour with half-dozen global figures participating in the APEC conference.

In the America, Trump may be the target of "Anti-Authority" rallies by Americans who disapprove of his boundary-testing extensions of presidential power, but during his Asian tour he was handled as royalty.

And like the monarchs of ancient times, the president came to Korea seeking contribution – in the form of $200bn in monetary contributions, $twenty billion a year, from the host nation to the United States, to be used at the guidance of Trump's administration. Agreement on the details of those contributions assisted in that the tax percentage on Korean products to the America would fall from twenty-five percent to fifteen percent.

The primary focus of the president's Asian tour took place in its last moments, however, as he encountered the Chinese leader.

In that setting, the influence relationship between leaders of the planet's biggest economic powers was markedly distinct than the exchanges Trump had with his international peers in prior visits.

Absent were the usual pageantry and the display. Without any military bands, without ceremonial troops, without thoughtfully prepared meal plans celebrating bilateral friendship. By contrast, the both heads and their top aides sat across a long white discussion surface in a unremarkable service structure just off the runway of the city of Busan's air transport hub.

It was likely a demonstration of the major consequences that when the president shook hands with Xi in Busan, he looked