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Presidential journeys internationally have traditionally been an opportunity to display the influence of the American nation on the world stage. Donald Trump's week-long swing through eastern Asia, by contrast, has been a display of the authority of the leader – but also, at times, of that influence's limitations.

The president's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the span of the opening phase were an exercise in satisfying a sometimes mercurial US leader. It was an acknowledgement that Trump, with the stroke of a hand, could impose duties and other measures that have the potential to harm the economies of trade-reliant countries.

His discussion with China's president Xi Jinping on the last day, however, was something entirely different.

It was a meeting of equals on the world platform, where the consequences for both nations – for their markets, for their international prestige, for the welfare of their populations – were enormous.

With the Chinese, Trump may wave his authority, but such actions involve repercussions. They carry a toll.

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• The Chinese president and the US leader reach temporary truce as China plays longer game

For the first four days, Trump's latest venture into global diplomacy was smooth sailing.

Each visit was marked by a mix of conventional commercial discussions – agreements made under the pressure of the president's "mutual" duties – and individual concessions that at points approached the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, the president gained entry to essential resources and made headway toward completing commercial deals with south-east Asian nations. He also oversaw a treaty that should ease border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace deal" the American president prefers to tout.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's Marine One soared near a landmark tower lit American colors – with a top in Trumpian gold.

Newly elected Head Takaichi outlined $550bn in Japanese investments in the America and presented the US leader a offering of two hundred fifty sakura trees for the United States' 250th anniversary, and a golf club and bag that was owned by former Prime Minister Abe, the assassinated past head who bonded with the president in his initial presidency.

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

Matching the effort, the Korean government received the president with cannons firing a honor salute and a armed forces orchestra that played the leader's song and the Village People song – the musical group song that has become a presidential event anthem.

President the Korean president held an "award event" for the US leader during which he awarded the American leader his country's top honor and a model of an historical royal headpiece.

Lunch with the Korean leader included a "Conciliatory Treat" of gilded brownies. Afterward, the Koreans served the president premium vintage at an intimate dinner in Trump's honour with six international heads attending the regional summit summit.

In the United States, Trump may be the subject of "No Kings" rallies by the public who reject his limit-pushing extensions of executive authority, but during his East Asia visit he was received as monarchy.

And like the kings of ancient times, the president visited Korea requesting contribution – in the guise of $200bn in financial transfers, $20bn a year, from Korea to the United States, to be invested at the guidance of Trump's government. Approval on the terms of those payments helped ensure that the tax percentage on host nation products to the United States would drop from twenty-five percent to fifteen percent.

The central moment of Trump's regional visit took place in its concluding phase, however, as he met with Xi.

In that setting, the influence relationship between counterparts of the planet's biggest economic powers was decidedly distinct than the interactions the president had with his overseas colleagues in previous days.

Missing were the usual pageantry and the spectacle. Without any service ensembles, absent protocol units, no meticulously designed dining selections honoring shared goodwill. By contrast, the pair of counterparts and their senior advisors were seated across a large pale meeting furniture in a plain armed forces facility just near the airstrip of the southern port's global terminal.

It was possibly a indication of the high stakes that when the president shook hands with Xi in the southern port, he seemed