Reports circulating on Twitter claim the Chinese embassy in Myanmar donated 1.16 billion yuan ($180 million) to Myanmar's education ministry on November 12 in a bid to increase Chinese influence on Burmese youth. The claim is false; the Chinese embassy in Myanmar said the reports were "totally fabricated", while the tweets feature a photo taken at a vaccine donation event.

"November 12th. On behalf of the Chinese government, the Chinese embassy in Myanmar donated materials and cash totalling RMB 1.16 billion to the Ministry of Education of Myanmar for the 2022 free lunch programme for all primary and secondary school students in Myanmar," reads a screenshot posted on Twitter on November 16.

"Chen Hai, China's ambassador to Myanmar, said that they want to make sure Myanmar's next generation feels the achievements of China's development".

The screenshot features a photo of two officials in front of the Chinese national flag and a wall reading "Embassy in Myanmar" in Chinese and "THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA" in English.

The traditional Chinese tweet reads: "Have Chinese children experienced it?"

However, the claim is false.

A reverse image search on Chinese search engine Baidu found the photo showing the two officials in a report about Chinese vaccines sent to Myanmar, published on November 12 on the Chinese embassy in Myanmar's website.

The headline reads: "A new batch of Covid-19 vaccines from Chinese government arrives in Yangon".

"On November 12, one million Sinovax vaccine doses, as the first batch of three million doses assisted by the Chinese government arrived at Yangon International Airport. Chen Hai, Chinese ambassador to Myanmar, held a video handover ceremony with Thet Khaing Win, Minister of health in Myanmar," the report reads.

"The texts in the tweet are totally fabricated and the photo alongside the texts was taken from a news picture of the handover ceremony of China's aid to Myanmar vaccine on November 12," a spokesperson told AFP.

"Since this year, China has provided Myanmar with 8.9 million doses Covid-19 vaccine and many batches of anti-epidemic materials. The embassy has also carried out many donation projects for Myanmar students, the disabled, hospitalized children and other groups."

AFP found no credible news reports about China donating 1.16 billion yuan to Myanmar on November 12.