The Dutch government has invoked a Cold war-era law to effectively seize control of Nexperia, a Chinese-owned chipmaker based in the Netherlands.

The extraordinary move has sparked consternation in Beijing and raised questions about ownership in the geopolitically sensitive semiconductor sector.

AFP looks at some of the key questions surrounding the company and the Dutch actions.

- What is Nexperia and what does it make? -

Nexperia is a chipmaker based in the Dutch city of Nijmegen near the German border. It says its chips power "virtually every electronic design worldwide."

The chips are mainly found in cars, but also industrial components, as well as consumer and mobile electronics like refrigerators.

Dutch daily AD described what they make as the "salt and pepper" of chips, small

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