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US presidential trips overseas have typically been an opportunity to demonstrate the influence of the US on the global scene. Donald Trump's five-day swing through Asian nations, conversely, has been a display of the authority of Trump – but also, at points, of that power's boundaries.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the span of the initial days were an exercise in catering to a sometimes unpredictable American president. It was an acknowledgement that Trump, with the flick of a pen, could introduce tariffs and other measures that have the capacity to damage the economies of trade-reliant countries.

His sit-down with Beijing's head Xi on Thursday, however, was a completely different scenario.

It was a meeting of equals on the international scene, where the risks for the two powers – for their markets, for their international prestige, for the prosperity of their people – were enormous.

With China, Trump may use his power, but these moves involve consequences. They involve a toll.

• Trump praises 'remarkable' talks with the Chinese leader but no pact reached
• Xi and the US leader find short-term ceasefire as China pursues extended strategy

For the opening segment, the president's latest foray into global diplomacy was successful.

Each visit was marked by a blend of traditional commercial discussions – arrangements made under the shadow of the president's "equivalent" tariffs – and special treatment that at moments verged on the deferential.

In Malaysia, the president secured entry to key materials and made advances toward completing trade arrangements with ASEAN countries. He also presided over a pact that should ease territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace agreement" the president loves to highlight.

In the Japanese leg, the president's Marine One soared near a Tokyo Tower lit American colors – with a summit in gilded.

Newly elected Head the Japanese leader described $550 billion in Japanese investments in the America and offered the American president a gift of a quarter-thousand cherry trees for America's 250th anniversary, and a golf equipment and bag that came from Shinzo Abe, the killed former prime minister who connected with Trump in his first term.

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

Keeping pace, South Korea received Trump with artillery firing a traditional greeting and a military band that played Hail to the Chief and YMCA – the Village People tune that has become a presidential event anthem.

Leader Lee held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he awarded the American leader his country's top honor and a replica of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Midday meal with the Korean leader contained a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gold-covered brownies. Subsequently, the hosts provided Trump vineyard wine at an exclusive gathering in Trump's honour with six global figures present at the regional summit summit.

In the America, the president may be the subject of "No Kings" demonstrations by the public who oppose his authority-expanding expansions of leader's control, but during his regional tour he was handled as nobility.

And like the kings of history, Trump arrived in Korea seeking payment – in the shape of $200bn in cash payments, $20bn a year, from the host nation to the US, to be used at the guidance of Trump's government. Approval on the conditions of those contributions assisted in that the tariff rate on South Korean products to the United States would fall from twenty-five percent to fifteen percent.

The main event of Trump's Asia trip occurred in its final hours, however, as he encountered the Chinese leader.

At that location, the authority balance between heads of the world's two largest economies was noticeably distinct than the interactions Trump had with his overseas colleagues in previous days.

Absent were the usual pomp and the display. Without any service ensembles, absent ceremonial troops, no carefully crafted menus celebrating mutual national affection. Instead, the pair of counterparts and their key staff positioned themselves across a extended light-colored meeting furniture in a plain military building just off the runway of the southern port's air transport hub.

It was possibly a demonstration of the major consequences that when Trump shook hands with the Chinese leader in the Korean city, he seemed