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Presidential journeys abroad have historically been an occasion to showcase the strength of the American nation on the international platform. The president's five-day trip through eastern Asia, conversely, has been a display of the authority of the leader – but also, at moments, of that authority's boundaries.

Trump's destinations in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the duration of the first four days were an exercise in catering to a sometimes volatile US leader. It was an recognition that the leader, with the signature of a pen, could introduce taxes and further steps that have the capacity to damage the financial systems of export-oriented nations.

His discussion with China's president Xi Jinping on the final day, though, was a distinct situation.

It was a session of peers on the global stage, where the consequences for the two powers – for their economies, for their global standing, for the welfare of their people – were significant.

With Beijing, Trump may flick his pen, but such actions involve consequences. They carry a toll.

• Trump describes 'impressive' encounter with Xi but no pact finalized
• The Chinese president and the US leader find brief pause as Beijing plays longer game

For the initial phase, Trump's most recent foray into international relations was smooth sailing.

Each destination was marked by a combination of conventional trade negotiations – arrangements made under the shadow of the president's "reciprocal" taxes – and personal accommodations that at times verged on the subservient.

In the Malaysian stop, Trump secured rights to critical minerals and made headway toward finalizing economic agreements with ASEAN countries. He also led a treaty that should reduce border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the sort of "peace agreement" the American president prefers to promote.

In the Japanese leg, Trump's helicopter passed by a famous structure illuminated US flag colors – with a peak in Trumpian gold.

Recently chosen Head Sanai Takaichi detailed $550 billion in Japanese investments in the America and offered the president a present of two hundred fifty cherry trees for the United States' 250th anniversary, and a golf equipment and carrier that came from the late leader, the killed past head who connected with Trump in his initial presidency.

She also became the newest foreign leader to propose Trump for his highly-coveted international honor.

Not to be outdone, South Korea greeted the president with artillery performing a honor salute and a service ensemble that performed the presidential anthem and YMCA – the musical group tune that has become a presidential event theme.

Head Lee held an "award event" for the US leader during which he presented the American leader his nation's premier award and a replica of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Lunch with Lee contained a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-covered chocolate squares. Subsequently, the hosts offered the president vineyard wine at an exclusive gathering in Trump's honour with multiple global figures participating in the APEC conference.

In the US, the president may be the subject of "Anti-Monarchy" rallies by US citizens who reject his boundary-testing increases of leader's control, but during his East Asia tour he was handled as nobility.

And like the rulers of ancient times, Trump came to Korea demanding contribution – in the form of $200bn in monetary contributions, $twenty billion a per year, from South Korea to the America, to be used at the direction of the president's leadership. Approval on the conditions of those contributions helped ensure that the duty level on South Korean goods to the US would drop from a quarter to 15%.

The primary focus of the president's Asia trip took place in its concluding phase, however, as he encountered the Chinese leader.

In that setting, the authority balance between heads of the global top two markets was decidedly distinct than the exchanges Trump had with his overseas colleagues in earlier stops.

Not present were typical ceremony and the display. No armed forces orchestras, absent protocol units, without carefully crafted meal plans celebrating mutual national affection. Instead, the both heads and their senior advisors positioned themselves across a large pale meeting furniture in a nondescript military building just off the runway of the southern port's global terminal.

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