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US presidential trips internationally have traditionally been an opportunity to demonstrate the influence of the US on the international platform. Donald Trump's multi-day tour through East Asia, on the other hand, has been a display of the power of Trump – but also, at times, of that authority's constraints.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the initial days were an display in catering to a at times unpredictable American president. It was an admission that the leader, with the signature of a document, could introduce taxes and other measures that have the capacity to harm the financial systems of trade-reliant states.

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

It was a session of counterparts on the international scene, where the consequences for both nations – for their financial health, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their populations – were enormous.

With China, Trump may use his authority, but these moves come with repercussions. They come with a toll.

• The US president describes 'remarkable' meeting with the Chinese leader but no agreement reached
• Xi and Trump find temporary truce as China plays longer game

For the initial phase, the president's most recent venture into global diplomacy was smooth sailing.

Each destination was marked by a mix of conventional economic talks – arrangements made under the shadow of Trump's "mutual" taxes – and personal accommodations that at times verged on the deferential.

In Malaysia, the president obtained rights to key materials and made headway toward completing trade arrangements with south-east Asian nations. He also oversaw a treaty that should ease territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace deal" the president prefers to tout.

In Japan, the president's Marine One soared near a Tokyo Tower lit US flag colors – with a top in golden.

Newly elected Head the Japanese leader outlined $550bn in Tokyo's funding in the United States and gave the president a present of two hundred fifty sakura trees for America's semiquincentennial, and a golf club and case that belonged to Shinzo Abe, the killed former prime minister who bonded with the president in his initial presidency.

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

Matching the effort, Korea welcomed Trump with cannons performing a 21-gun salute and a armed forces orchestra that performed Hail to the Chief and the classic tune – the Village People song that has evolved into a presidential event standard.

Head Lee held an "honour ceremony" for the US leader during which he awarded the US president his nation's highest medal and a replica of an ancient Korean dynastic crown.

Midday meal with the Korean leader contained a "Diplomat's Sweet" of gold-encrusted brownies. Afterward, the Koreans provided the president vineyard wine at an intimate dinner in the president's honor with six world leaders attending the regional summit conference.

In the US, the president may be the subject of "Anti-Authority" rallies by Americans who reject his authority-expanding increases of executive authority, but during his East Asia visit he was received as monarchy.

And like the kings of history, Trump arrived in Korea requesting tribute – in the guise of $two hundred billion in monetary contributions, $20 billion a year, from Korea to the America, to be used at the direction of Trump's leadership. Consent on the conditions of those payments assisted in that the duty level on South Korean exports to the US would decrease from 25% to fifteen percent.

The central moment of the president's Asian tour took place in its last moments, nevertheless, as he met with the Chinese leader.

There, the influence relationship between leaders of the world's two largest economies was noticeably different than the interactions the president had with his overseas colleagues in prior visits.

Missing were all the ceremony and the display. Without any military bands, no honour guards, missing thoughtfully prepared meal plans marking mutual national affection. Instead, the pair of counterparts and their top aides sat across a long white discussion surface in a unremarkable service structure just off the runway of the southern port's international airport.

It was likely a demonstration of the major consequences that when Trump exchanged greetings with the Chinese leader in the Korean city, he looked