Why does that exclude the Chinese government from being authoritarian?

I absolutely agree. Those do not look like the same type of wood at all.

The link talks about new vs old construction lumber. “New growth” vs “old growth” is very misleading in this context. It should be understood as “fast growing trees” vs “slow growing trees” ie. soft wood vs hard wood.

With that said, I am very open to the idea that trees have been breed to grow faster (and of worse quality). I believe that without having any evidence of it, but this is not that evidence.