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American leader visits internationally have typically been an occasion to display the strength of the United States on the world stage. Donald Trump's five-day swing through eastern Asia, on the other hand, has been a demonstration of the clout of Trump – but also, at times, of that influence's boundaries.

Trump's stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the initial days were an demonstration in catering to a sometimes mercurial US leader. It was an admission that the leader, with the stroke of a document, could enact tariffs and further steps that have the capacity to damage the financial systems of export-oriented states.

His discussion with Beijing's head Xi on the final day, nevertheless, was a distinct situation.

It was a meeting of peers on the international scene, where the risks for both nations – for their economies, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their people – were enormous.

With the Chinese, Trump may use his pen, but such actions involve consequences. They carry a price.

• Trump describes 'amazing' encounter with the Chinese leader but no agreement reached
• Xi and Trump reach short-term ceasefire as Beijing pursues extended strategy

For the initial phase, Trump's latest venture into world politics was successful.

Each stop was punctuated by a combination of traditional commercial discussions – deals made under the pressure of Trump's "equivalent" taxes – and individual concessions that at points approached the deferential.

In Malaysia, Trump secured access to essential resources and made progress toward finalizing trade arrangements with south-east Asian nations. He also presided over a treaty that should reduce territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace deal" the president loves to highlight.

In Japan, the president's official aircraft passed by a landmark tower lit American colors – with a top in golden.

Recently chosen Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi outlined $half-trillion in Japan's financial commitments in the America and presented the American president a present of two hundred fifty flowering trees for America's semiquincentennial, and a sports gear and carrier that belonged to former Prime Minister Abe, the murdered ex-leader who bonded with the president in his previous administration.

She also became the latest international head to propose Trump for his much-desired international honor.

Keeping pace, South Korea welcomed the president with cannons firing a traditional greeting and a military band that played Hail to the Chief and the Village People song – the Village People anthem that has turned into a presidential event standard.

Head Lee Jae Myung held an "award event" for the US leader during which he gave the president his state's highest medal and a replica of an historical royal headpiece.

Lunch with the Korean leader featured a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded baked goods. Afterward, the Koreans served Trump fine beverage at an intimate dinner in the president's honour with multiple world leaders attending the regional summit summit.

In the United States, the president may be the focus of "Anti-Monarchy" rallies by US citizens who oppose his limit-pushing extensions of presidential power, but during his regional tour he was handled as monarchy.

And like the kings of ancient times, the president arrived in the Korean nation requesting tribute – in the guise of $200bn in monetary contributions, $20bn a annually, from the host nation to the US, to be allocated at the discretion of the president's leadership. Agreement on the terms of those payments assisted in that the tariff rate on South Korean exports to the US would decrease from a quarter to 15%.

The main event of the president's regional visit came in its final hours, however, as he met with the Chinese leader.

There, the influence relationship between leaders of the world's two largest economies was noticeably distinct than the meetings the president had with his overseas colleagues in earlier stops.

Absent were all the pomp and the pageantry. Lacking military bands, absent ceremonial troops, no meticulously designed dining selections marking bilateral friendship. Rather, the pair of counterparts and their senior advisors sat across a long white meeting furniture in a plain military building just near the airstrip of Busan's global terminal.

It was perhaps a reflection of the major consequences that when the president exchanged greetings with Xi in Busan, he looked