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American leader visits abroad have traditionally been an occasion to demonstrate the influence of the American nation on the global scene. Donald Trump's week-long tour through Asian nations, by contrast, has been a display of the power of the leader – but also, at times, of that influence's limitations.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the opening phase were an display in catering to a occasionally unpredictable American president. It was an admission that the president, with the signature of a document, could enact duties and additional actions that have the capacity to devastate the markets of export-dependent nations.

His discussion with Beijing's head Xi on the final day, nevertheless, was a completely different scenario.

It was a session of equals on the international scene, where the risks for each country – for their markets, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their people – were significant.

With Beijing, the president may flick his power, but such actions involve ramifications. They involve a cost.

• Trump describes 'impressive' talks with Xi but no agreement finalized
• The Chinese president and Trump reach short-term ceasefire as Beijing pursues extended strategy

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

Each stop was punctuated by a combination of traditional trade negotiations – deals made under the pressure of Trump's "reciprocal" duties – and individual concessions that at times approached the obsequious.

In Malaysia, the president secured access to key materials and made headway toward concluding economic agreements with south-east Asian nations. He also presided over a pact that should alleviate territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the kind of "truce" the US leader loves to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's official aircraft soared near a Tokyo Tower illuminated American colors – with a summit in gilded.

Recently chosen Leader the Japanese leader detailed $half-trillion in Japan's financial commitments in the America and presented the president a present of 250 sakura trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf club and case that belonged to former Prime Minister Abe, the killed former prime minister who bonded with Trump in his previous administration.

She also became the most recent overseas counterpart to nominate Trump for his long-sought Nobel Peace Prize.

Matching the effort, South Korea welcomed Trump with cannons performing a 21-gun salute and a armed forces orchestra that played the presidential anthem and YMCA – the Village People song that has turned into a presidential event anthem.

Head Lee Jae Myung held an "recognition ritual" for the US leader during which he awarded the American leader his nation's highest medal and a copy of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Midday meal with Lee contained a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-covered brownies. Subsequently, the Koreans offered Trump vineyard wine at an intimate dinner in the president's recognition with half-dozen international heads participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

In the US, the president may be the subject of "No Kings" rallies by the public who disapprove of his limit-pushing extensions of executive authority, but during his Asian swing he was treated like monarchy.

And like the kings of ancient times, Trump arrived in the Korean nation demanding payment – in the guise of $200bn in cash payments, $20 billion a year, from the host nation to the United States, to be invested at the direction of Trump's leadership. Consent on the details of those transfers contributed to that the duty level on Korean exports to the United States would fall from a quarter to 15%.

The primary focus of Trump's Asian tour took place in its last moments, nevertheless, as he met with Xi.

In that setting, the authority balance between heads of the planet's biggest economic powers was markedly different than the meetings Trump had with his foreign counterparts in prior visits.

Not present were all the pomp and the pageantry. Without any armed forces orchestras, no ceremonial troops, missing meticulously designed dining selections marking mutual national affection. Rather, the both heads and their key staff sat across a large pale meeting furniture in a unremarkable service structure just adjacent to the landing strip of the city of Busan's global terminal.

It was perhaps a demonstration of the major consequences that when the president made contact with Xi in Busan, he seemed