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US presidential trips internationally have historically been an opportunity to demonstrate the influence of the United States on the international platform. Donald Trump's week-long trip through eastern Asia, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the clout of Trump – but also, at times, of that power's limitations.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the first four days were an demonstration in catering to a sometimes unpredictable US leader. It was an admission that the leader, with the flick of a pen, could introduce tariffs and other measures that have the potential to devastate the markets of export-oriented countries.

His sit-down with China's president Xi Jinping on the final day, though, was a completely different scenario.

It was a meeting of counterparts on the global stage, where the stakes for both nations – for their economies, for their global standing, for the welfare of their citizens – were enormous.

With Beijing, the president may wave his authority, but those steps come with ramifications. They come with a toll.

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For the initial phase, the president's latest foray into world politics was smooth sailing.

Each stop was marked by a blend of conventional economic talks – arrangements made under the threat of the president's "equivalent" duties – and special treatment that at moments bordered on the obsequious.

In Malaysia, the president gained entry to critical minerals and made progress toward concluding commercial deals with south-east Asian nations. He also led a treaty that should alleviate border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace deal" the president prefers to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's helicopter soared near a landmark tower lit red, white and blue – with a peak in Trumpian gold.

Freshly appointed Head Sanai Takaichi outlined $half-trillion in Japanese investments in the US and gave the American president a present of 250 sakura trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf club and carrier that belonged to the late leader, the assassinated former prime minister who bonded with Trump in his previous administration.

She also became the most recent international head to suggest Trump for his much-desired peace award.

Not to be outdone, South Korea greeted Trump with guns discharging a traditional greeting and a service ensemble that rendered the presidential anthem and YMCA – the Village People song that has become a political gathering anthem.

President Lee Jae Myung held an "recognition ritual" for the US leader during which he presented the US president his country's premier award and a copy of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Lunch with Lee featured a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gold-encrusted brownies. Subsequently, the South Koreans served Trump vineyard wine at an exclusive gathering in the president's honour with half-dozen international heads attending the APEC summit.

In the United States, Trump may be the focus of "Anti-Monarchy" rallies by US citizens who oppose his authority-expanding increases of executive authority, but during his East Asia swing he was received as monarchy.

And like the rulers of old, the president arrived in South Korea demanding tribute – in the guise of $200 billion in monetary contributions, $twenty billion a annually, from Korea to the US, to be invested at the guidance of the president's administration. Agreement on the terms of those transfers helped ensure that the duty level on Korean goods to the United States would decrease from 25% to 15%.

The primary focus of Trump's regional visit occurred in its concluding phase, nevertheless, as he met with the Chinese leader.

In that setting, the power dynamic between leaders of the world's two largest economies was decidedly distinct than the interactions the president had with his overseas colleagues in previous days.

Absent were the usual pomp and the pageantry. Lacking military bands, absent ceremonial troops, without thoughtfully prepared meal plans honoring bilateral friendship. Instead, the two leaders and their key staff positioned themselves across a long white discussion surface in a plain armed forces facility just adjacent to the landing strip of the southern port's international airport.

It was possibly a demonstration of the significant risks that when Trump made contact with the Chinese leader in the Korean city, he appeared