...which it explicitly stated it does not recognize

False.  You need to learn how to read.

This phrase here --

whatever about the validity of the orders

basically means, "whatever you want to say about the validity of the orders", i.e. "say what you want about the validity of the orders", i.e., prescinding from any consideration of their validity.

In other words, the Vatican was merely referring to the fact that they're legally illicit without having done any investigation into their validity.

In some cases, the Vatican allowed Thuc priests back into "the fold" without requiring conditional ordination.

...which it then follows with an explicit statement that it does not recognize their validity.

Wrong again.  It just says the Church does not recognize the ordinations, secundum quid not being specified, and the clue is that it's immediately followed by references to juridical effects ...

as regards all juridical effects, it considers them in the state which each one had previously