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Presidential journeys internationally have traditionally been an chance to demonstrate the strength of the American nation on the global scene. Donald Trump's five-day swing through East Asia, conversely, has been a demonstration of the power of the leader – but also, at times, of that power's boundaries.

Trump's stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea over the course of the first four days were an exercise in satisfying a at times volatile US leader. It was an admission that the president, with the stroke of a hand, could enact tariffs and further steps that have the potential to devastate the economies of export-dependent countries.

His sit-down with China's president Xi Jinping on the last day, however, was a distinct situation.

It was a session of peers on the global stage, where the risks for each country – for their markets, for their global standing, for the well-being of their populations – were significant.

With the Chinese, the US leader may flick his power, but these moves involve repercussions. They carry a price.

• The US president describes 'remarkable' encounter with the Chinese leader but no agreement reached
• The Chinese president and the US leader find brief pause as Beijing pursues extended strategy

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

Each visit was punctuated by a mix of traditional commercial discussions – arrangements made under the shadow of the president's "equivalent" tariffs – and individual concessions that at times verged on the deferential.

In the Malaysian stop, the president secured entry to key materials and made progress toward finalizing commercial deals with south-east Asian nations. He also presided over a pact that should ease frontier issues between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace deal" the American president prefers to promote.

In the Japanese leg, the president's official aircraft flew past a famous structure illuminated American colors – with a summit in gilded.

Newly elected Leader Sanai Takaichi outlined $550bn in Japan's financial commitments in the US and gave the American president a present of two hundred fifty sakura trees for the United States' 250th anniversary, and a golf equipment and bag that came from the late leader, the assassinated former prime minister who bonded with Trump in his initial presidency.

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

Matching the effort, South Korea welcomed the president with cannons firing a honor salute and a service ensemble that rendered Hail to the Chief and the Village People song – the musical group song that has become a political gathering theme.

Head Lee Jae Myung held an "recognition ritual" for Trump during which he gave the US president his nation's highest medal and a replica of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Noon repast with the Korean leader included a "Peacemaker's Dessert" of gold-covered baked goods. Subsequently, the Koreans provided Trump vineyard wine at an private meal in the president's recognition with half-dozen global figures participating in the regional summit summit.

In the US, the president may be the focus of "Anti-Authority" demonstrations by the public who oppose his limit-pushing expansions of executive authority, but during his Asian swing he was handled as nobility.

And like the rulers of history, the president came to Korea requesting contribution – in the form of $200bn in monetary contributions, $twenty billion a year, from South Korea to the America, to be invested at the guidance of the president's administration. Agreement on the conditions of those transfers contributed to that the tariff rate on South Korean products to the US would fall from a quarter to 15%.

The main event of the president's Asian tour took place in its final hours, nevertheless, as he met with Xi.

There, the power dynamic between heads of the world's two largest economies was decidedly different than the meetings the president had with his foreign counterparts in prior visits.

Absent were the usual pomp and the pageantry. Lacking military bands, no protocol units, missing thoughtfully prepared dining selections celebrating mutual national affection. Rather, the pair of counterparts and their key staff sat across a long white discussion surface in a plain military building just near the airstrip of the city of Busan's air transport hub.

It was likely a demonstration of the significant risks that when Trump shook hands with Xi in the southern port, he looked