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US presidential trips abroad have traditionally been an occasion to demonstrate the influence of the United States on the international platform. Donald Trump's week-long trip through Asian nations, by contrast, has been a demonstration of the clout of the president – but also, at times, of that power's constraints.

Trump's visits in Malaysia, Japan and Korea over the duration of the opening phase were an demonstration in catering to a at times unpredictable US leader. It was an admission that the leader, with the flick of a document, could introduce taxes and other measures that have the potential to harm the financial systems of export-dependent countries.

His meeting with China's president Xi on the final day, nevertheless, was something entirely different.

It was a session of counterparts on the international scene, where the consequences for both nations – for their economies, for their world reputation, for the prosperity of their citizens – were immense.

With Beijing, Trump may flick his pen, but such actions involve repercussions. They come with a cost.

• Trump hails 'amazing' meeting with Xi but no pact finalized
• The Chinese president and Trump reach short-term ceasefire as China adopts strategic patience

For the first four days, the president's most recent venture into global diplomacy was successful.

Each destination was marked by a combination of standard economic talks – agreements made under the pressure of Trump's "equivalent" taxes – and personal accommodations that at times approached the subservient.

In Malaysia, Trump secured entry to critical minerals and made advances toward concluding economic agreements with ASEAN countries. He also presided over a treaty that should alleviate border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia – the type of "peace agreement" the US leader loves to highlight.

In Japan, Trump's official aircraft flew past a Tokyo Tower illuminated US flag colors – with a summit in gilded.

Freshly appointed Leader the Japanese leader described $550bn in Tokyo's funding in the US and offered the president a present of 250 sakura trees for America's semiquincentennial, and a golf equipment and bag that was owned by former Prime Minister Abe, the killed ex-leader who bonded with Trump in his previous administration.

She also became the latest international head to suggest Trump for his long-sought international honor.

Not to be outdone, the Korean government welcomed Trump with cannons performing a honor salute and a military band that played the leader's song and the Village People song – the band song that has turned into a political gathering anthem.

President Lee held an "recognition ritual" for the US leader during which he gave the American leader his country's premier award and a copy of an traditional ruler's coronet.

Lunch with Lee contained a "Conciliatory Treat" of gold-encrusted brownies. Afterward, the hosts served the president premium vintage at an intimate dinner in the president's honor with six international heads attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference meeting.

In the US, the president may be the target of "Anti-Monarchy" demonstrations by the public who disapprove of his boundary-testing expansions of presidential power, but during his East Asia visit he was handled as monarchy.

And like the kings of history, the president visited the Korean nation demanding contribution – in the shape of $200 billion in monetary contributions, $20bn a annually, from South Korea to the America, to be used at the discretion of Trump's leadership. Consent on the conditions of those contributions contributed to that the tax percentage on South Korean products to the United States would drop from a quarter to under twenty percent.

The primary focus of Trump's regional visit came in its concluding phase, nevertheless, as he sat down with Xi.

There, the authority balance between counterparts of the global top two markets was noticeably distinct than the meetings Trump had with his international peers in prior visits.

Missing were the usual pageantry and the spectacle. Without any military bands, without honour guards, without thoughtfully prepared meal plans celebrating mutual national affection. Rather, the pair of counterparts and their key staff sat across a long white meeting furniture in a unremarkable armed forces facility just near the airstrip of the southern port's global terminal.

It was perhaps a indication of the significant risks that when Trump exchanged greetings with the Chinese leader in the southern port, he seemed